We had a service at St Paul's in the morning. I said a few words before the 11 am silence. It appears to have gone well this year, I was not chased by people carrying cutlasses as last year. All this standing around however, does not do me much good.
In the afternoon I hobbled across to the town ceremony, a mistake my body insisted correctly, just to obtain a picture or two. Our vicar is responsible for the religious bit here, and did it very well. He had taken an 8 am communion, the St Peter's 11 am service, then this at 2 pm, which ends with a march to St Michaels for a service. I suppose that is enough for one day.
I remember reading about a couple of preachers in the 1600s who spoke at a local church meeting in a farmers barn. Now this was illegal at the time, attendance at St Michaels or St Mary's was compulsory, but 800 would meet in the barn anyway. These two men walked from London to Chelmsford, remaining there overnight. Sunday morning they walked 15 miles or so to the town, took the service, then walked 15 miles to Caoludunum and took an afternoon service there. After which the walked back to the town, took the evening service and walked back to Chelmsford. Around 60 or so miles.
Today this unthinkable, but people had no choice then, walking was the only transport for most, and it kept them fit. Paul the apostle walked much, much more in days past.
Anyway, I walked the 500 yards back home and went to bed, that was enough for me.
1 comment:
Wow, that was a lot of walking. As you say, if that was the only way, you walk!
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