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Thurrock and Havering have ring!
I’m down to pray and fast in some way for Thurrock every 14th of the month, and so on Valentine’s Day I found myself doing a couple of prayer drives around the borough.
In the morning, I went down to Tilbury Fort and Coalhouse Fort. In the afternoon, I parked up by the Heritage Centre at Purfleet’s Garrison Estate and walked along the riverfront there.
 I went over to the beacon placed on the green between the estate and the Royal Hotel. This was put up in 1988 to commemorate the victory over the Armada. Of course, that’s when Elizabeth I famously came to Thurrock - to Tilbury - and spoke rousingly to the troops gathered there. This speech, and the navy’s victory, are now seen by historians as the birth of the British Empire.
There’s a plaque on the beacon that says, ‘Fire Over England’, and a rather rusty Thurrock coat of arms. I knew the chap who painstakingly painted that coat of arms for three such beacons across the borough... It seems indicative of Thurrock’s own ‘Gideon complex’ of low self-esteem, lack of self-worth, negativity and self-neglect that these beacons have been allowed to decay.
But we have the answer! Matthew 6:19-20 records that Jesus said: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
 I then walked along the old Victorian wrought iron fence to the mouth of the River Mardyke, which also acts as the boundary between the boroughs of Thurrock and Havering, which is technically in London. Looking across to the RSPB Rainham Marshes Visitor Centre, it’s hard to think that ‘London’ is just on the other side of the muddy creek.
Right at this point they’re erecting a new foot bridge across the Mardyke, and on the Thurrock side there’s a rather unusual steel sculpture, a circular ‘gate’, which has a little ‘quiff’ sticking up on one side. It’s still all surrounding by security fencing, but it seems as if eventually people will be walking through this structure before going across the bridge and over to the reserve in ‘London’.
 After some research and emails to friends on the ‘other side’ in Havering, I’ve discovered that the gate has being known locally as ‘The Engagement Ring because it will unite Purfleet and Rainham’ (Yellow Advertiser).
Which is interesting, very interesting indeed!
Because... of the work of the Thames Gateway Prayernet over the past 15 months, which brings Thurrock and Havering (amongst others) together in land-healing, boundary-crossing, prophetic-actioning intercessory-happening prayer.
Because... of the links between the prayer networks of Transformation Thurrock and Across Havering.
Because... of the simple act last October of facilitating the Thurrock & Havering Schools’ Prayer Day at Aveley Methodist Church, which stands at the centre of both boroughs when put together (to be repeated in 2010 on 2 October).
 Because... it’s been declared over the land on numerous occasions:
No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. (Isaiah 64:2.)
Why the effort & expense for such an object/art/symbol when all they needed was a bridge?!! Is the ‘Engagement Ring’ intended to be a boundary-marker or a boundary-breaker?
 It would seem to indicate being joined up and unbroken; and a tangible, physical, symbol in the landscape of a marrying of the land, a sign of God's covenant blessing on Havering and Thurrock. God is confirming his work in signs in the land.
One person has observed that, “If it's been in the planning for 3 years, I'd say it's an answer to years of prayer! Let's rejoice at the sign and pick up the responsibility that comes with covenant of becoming 'our brother's keeper'?”
More generally, the bridge is a link, part of an ambitious plan to open up the south Essex shoreline to visitors. The artwork and the bridge are both expected to be officially opened at a ceremony in March.
Related articles:
www.yellowadvertiser.co.uk/tn/news.cfm?id=5122&searchword=Mardyke
www.thurrockgazette.co.uk/news/4060250.New_bridge_for_Thurrock/
See the boundaries of the original ‘hundred’ of Chafford with respect to the ‘marrying’ of Havering and Thurrock:
www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42822
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chafford_(hundred)
The RSPB Rainham Marshes Visitor Centre (a great place for a coffee, a brie & bacon panini, a slice of homemade coffee & walnut cake, and a stroll!):
www.essexbirdwatchsoc.co.uk/Marsh%20Matters%20Oct%2009.pdf
http://p1.countryside.gov.uk/Images/p10%20final%20report%2003-07_tcm2-31794.pdf
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/r/rainhammarshes/index.asp
Article about the dredging of the Thames in preparation for the new container port in Thurrock:
www.yellowadvertiser.co.uk/tn/news.cfm?id=6006&headline=Concerns%20over%20dredging%20works
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Tim Harrold, 22/02/2010 |
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