Thank you to everyone who joined us to Sea Shanty around the Parish of St Olave Hart Street on Friday 10th July, the Friday before Sea Sunday. Special thanks to the London Sea Shanty Collective for leading us in song and to The Clothworkers’ Company for supporting the event.
We managed to get to four of the seventeen pubs in the parish! Thank you to Amber and her team at The Ship Inn, Martin Short and the gang at The Crutched Friar, the amazing Alex at the Corn Exchange and Bob and all the team at The East India Arms for their stamina serving all the drinks to thirsty shantiers!
Why did we go Sea Shantying?
The parish of St Olave Hart Street continues to be shaped by our mercantile and maritime connections. Dedicated to a viking warrior who sailed long boats along the Thames and pulled London Bridge down (inspiring the nursery rhyme and saving London from Danish invaders), the church is founded on the site of the Battle of London Bridge (1014). Near the Pool of London, for centuries the trading hub of the City, the walls of the church are plastered with memorials to traders and merchant adventurers of every kind. We retain long standing connections with Trinity House (who remain the General Lighthouse Authority) as well as maritime insurance and shipping companies headquartered in the parish.
This Sunday the church marks Sea Sunday, when we give thanks especially for all those connected to the sea, who make their living on it.
Anyone following the news recently cannot have escaped the realisation of how important the sea is to global trade and our way of life, not just in this country but around the world. Please take some time over the next few days to research some of the many maritime charities that are always keen to receive support – whether focussing on ecology or using sailing as a means of empowering disadvantaged young people.
Other ways we are marking Sea Sunday
Join us at St Olave Hart Street if you are able at 11am on Sunday 12th July for our Sea Sunday service. Or join us for our final Choral Evensong of the year at 5.30pm on Tuesday when the choir will be singing music from the time of Samuel Pepys (who is buried here and was first elected Master of Trinity House 350 years ago this year).
Looking further ahead, our St Olave Lectures resume in September – and our first two talks of the new season focus on aspects of our maritime history – in September we explore the Tudor spies connected to the church and in October the history of the tea trade in the Square Mile.
If you enjoy Sea Shantying you may particularly enjoy Wassailing (carol singing around the pubs) on Friday 11th December! Save the date! Details of our forthcoming special services and events are at this link.
A Prayer for Sea Sunday
Almighty God,
who has created the earth and the deep,
and whose only begotten Son walked on the waters
and calmed the raging storms:
send your Holy Sprit and anoint all seafarers
with the most excellent gift of your grace;
that they may have strength of body and soul
amidst the raging of the waves;
grant this for the sake of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
