McLarens Blog-Woodbridge, Suffolk.

13/06/13

We are here in Woodbridge, we arrived two days ago, having a gentle trip from Walton on the Naze. When we left Walton on the Naze, it was sunny and the sea was calm. There was a gentle breeze, which meant for the first time we was able to unfurl the foresail, and we cruised along 3 knots. (I sound like a professional and seasoned sailor, but the captain is sitting here giving me all these details.)

Because of these conditions Nelson was able to enjoy the trip a lot more than on previous trips out, when he has howled and shivered, protesting at the injustice of being ‘press ganged’ into this trip.

The weather recently has been very windy, which means the sea has been choppy, which is the reason we have remained in Woodbridge, these last few days. The weather conditions have left me feeing somewhat frustrated as I would like to be on the move, and heading up coast, but Chris thinks it would not be a good move.

The highlight for me in the last week or so, was when Chris, Nelson and I went for a walk along the coast from Bradwell Marina, to St. Peters in the wall, the first of the Celtic Shrines that are on our itinerary.

As the chapel came into view, I felt a growing sense of excitement, and awe, as I had a feeling this place was going to be different from other Celtic Shrines I’ve visited, that are certainly very spiritual, and have a tangible atmosphere of prayer, through the centuries, but because of the popularity of Celtic spirituality there are often crowds of people around. I think of Durham Cathedral, where St. Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede are buried, or Hexham Abbey, and Whitby Abbey, which as Celtic Shrines have more ‘crowd pulling power, but sadly because of this, so much of the prayerful ambience can be disappointing.

However, as we approached St. Peters Chapel, that is in a small field looking out to sea, there is a small wooden door. As we opened it, we saw that the chapel is a very simple stone chapel, with a few benches,  and a stone alter. I was not disappointed in the very spiritual atmosphere that pervaded this small building.

St. Peters Chapel was built by St. Cedd, who was one of four brothers who were educated on Holy Island. The ethos of this school was that young men were trained to become priests and missionaries. All four brothers were ordained as priests, and two of them Cedd and and Chad later became Bishops.

As a young priest Cedd had been successful on a number of missions, and was invited by King Sigbert King of the East Saxons, (Essex.)  To lead a mission with a view of starting a community in that region.

In 653 Cedd left Holy Island and sailed down the coast, to Bradwell. Those of us who are keen on recycling, would be impressed with St. Cedd. At first he built a wooden temporary building, but  when he wanted to build a new and more permanent chapel, where God would be worshipped he reused stone from the ruins of an old Roman Fort, he had discovered.

Off course when I read this, I couldn’t help thinking of Vivian Symonds the first Vicar of Biggin Hill, who rebuilt St. Mark’s from a bomb damaged building in North Peckham.

Earlier today Chris and I went to look at the local parish church, and I was amazed at the beauty of the stonework, how craftsmen in the past put stones together, that may have been beautiful on their own, but put together, there was a beauty, allowing the church building give glory to God.

In reflecting on both these accounts of St. Cedd buiding his new chapel in Bradwell, out of stones from a ruin, and then considering that a similar situation happened in Biggin Hill, the words from Peter come to mind in his first letter, “ As you come to him, the living stone-rejected by human beings but chosen by God and precious to him- you also, like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Both St. Peters chapel and St. Mark’s Biggin Hill, where built by bricks that some would consider as ruins to be unusable or unworthy,  to be part of something new and vibrant, that can be used again to God’s glory.

In his letter Peter writes that we are precious to God, and we can be living stones, vibrant with the good news of God’s love. We can all be used by him……we at times may feel we are like those stones, ruins, worthless, but God can rebuild each one of us into something new.

I conclude by writing the prayer of St. Cedd  and the Saints of Essex, which is on a prayer card I brought from the chapel of St. Peters in the wall……a former Roman Ruin now a beautiful chapel reflecting the  love and salvation of Christ.

O Almighty God, who willest to be glorified in thy saints

and didst raise up thy servants Cedd and the Saints of Essex

to shine as lights in the world:

Shine, we pray thee in our hearts, that we also

in our generation may show forth thy praises

who hast called us out of darkness into thy

marvellous light; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.