Service of Commemoration – Redwick Church travels back in time

St. Thomas’ Church, Redwick, was the scene of a gathering of congregations from Redwick, Nash and Goldcliff, some of the areas affected by the devastating flood, in a service of commemoration. These congregations were joined by the Bishop of Bath & Wells, the Right Reverend Peter Price, a most appropriate choice of guest speaker, as the ancestors of his present  congregations on the other side of the Severn also suffered great loss.

The evening began with words written by Bishop Francis Godwin in 1603 to the clergy of that day. It was a message full of warnings of ‘future punishment’, especially for the people who were ‘very backward in sending their children for instruction’ in matters of faith. We were invited to reflect on how these prophetic words might have been received as we joined together in an evening prayer based on the prayer book of 1559.

This liturgical ‘time travel’ was made all the more convincing by the style and script of the order of service. Being further enhanced by period music played from the gallery on authentic instruments, by musicians of the Cathays Consort.

Children from Magor Church in Wales School sang and read local accounts of that fateful day before leading a solemn Act of Commemoration in memory of the victims and their families.

Rt. Rev. Peter Price then drew us back to the present as he recalled modern day disasters such as the Asian Tsunami, the reality of global warming and possible future world problems. He talked of our understanding of God’s presence in the light of such disasters and our honest questioning concerning judgement. The Bishop then spoke of the God who is ‘unsafe and yet good’ and challenged us to embody these same radical qualities in our lives.

The evening was rounded off with a typical 17th century supper, steaming home made soup served in a ‘bowl’ made of bread!

A year of events to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Great Flood

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Wreath at the scratch dial flood  mark

The text of Bishop Peter’s Address is available here.