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Celtic Prayer Pilgrimage follows footsteps of Cedd
 On Wednesday 14 July, the Thames Gateway Prayernet are visiting St Peter’s Chapel in Bradwell-on-Sea.
Thurrock’s connections with Bradwell are a mere 13 1/2 centuries old. It was back in 653 that a monk called Cedd alighted from his coracle onto the beach of the low-lying Dengy Peninsula, which lies between the Crouch and Blackwater rivers to the south and north. Cedd had sailed down the North Sea coast from the monastery at Lindisfarne and was one of the famous Northumbrian Celtic community.
Cedd established a community at Bradwell, and in the following year he and his fellow monks and new converts set about building a chapel using the remnants of a Roman Fort - called Othona - that originally stood there.
 This chapel - called St Peter’s-on-the-Wall - stands there today, albeit rebuilt to some extent, some of the original structure remaining intact.
Cedd also came down to Thurrock, forming a similar community at what is now East Tilbury, on the banks of a then much wider and shallower Thames. The Celtic cross appears in Thurrock’s borough arms - a nod in the direction of Cedd’s influence over this part of the East Saxon lands in those days.
There is something very special about a visit to St Peter’s Chapel. The little track down from the car park past flat fields. The solitary chapel, plain and functional in its architecture, appears round the corner of the path. Upon entering through the big wooden door, the sense of tangible peace. The chapel is a ‘thin place’, thick with the presence of God.
 These days, every first Saturday of July, there is an annual pilgrimage from the parish church in Bradwell itself out to the chapel. On 3 July this year, the pilgrims were joined by the Bishop of Bradwell, Laurie Green, for the last time before he retires; and by the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu. (If you went, please sent an article and photos!)
This Celtic Prayer Pilgrimage is open to anyone who wishes to join us. We are aiming to arrive at the car park at about 10.30am, and the chapel at about 11am. (Suggested leaving time from Thurrock - 9.30am.)
 Revs Laurence & Margaret Whitford - formerly of St Catherine’s, East Tilbury - will lead us in a act of Celtic-style communion. They will give something of the historical background to St Peter’s and Cedd, and then we will pray in and around the chapel.
Please bring a picnic.
NB The nearest toilet to the chapel is at the Othona Community, two fields away from the chapel! So ‘go’ before you come!
Travel:
Take a map / SatNav! It's very easy to get lost on the country roads!
It takes about an hour from Thurrock to get to Bradwell-on-Sea.
- Take the A13 to Sadlers Farm roundabout (the 'magic' roundabout)
- Bear left - on second mini-roundabout take the A130 north to Rettendon
- Take the A132 to South Woodham Ferrers
- Take the B1012, which becomes the B1010
- Turn north at Althorne and connect with the B1018 heading east
- At Southminster, head north up the B1021 through Asheldham and Tillingham until you reach Bradwell
- Turn right into village (or else you end up at the Bradwell Waterside)
- Follow the Roman Road down to the "P" - the chapel is straight on beyond that
Map:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=600500&y=206500&z=120&sv=Bradwell-on-Sea&st=3&tl=Map+of+Bradwell+on+Sea,+Essex+[City/Town/Village]&searchp=ids.srf&mapp=map.srf
Website:
For a more fuller historical account and info about St Peter’s, please see www.bradwellchapel.org.
Our thanks to Laurence & Margaret for their hospitality and help.
Contact Tim Harrold on tim@transformationthurrock.com or 07 929 878 089 for further details and lift if required.
Pictures (top to bottom)
- The Chapel, taken early October 2005 at the start of The Turn Of The Tide 24-28
- The path leading down to the chapel, which can be seen at the end of the road
- Scene from the annual pilgrimage, 4 July 2009
- Rev Laurence Whitford standing in the chapel's doorway, October 2005
- Sunrise over the North Sea (07:12:16), The Turning Of The Tide, 3 October 2005
- Frontpage: The Celtic Cross inside St Peter's Chapel
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Tim Harrold, 07/07/2010 |
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