Transformation Thurrock : TGP heads for Hadleigh Castle

TGP heads for Hadleigh Castle

The Thames Gateway Prayernetters are gathering at the well known ruin that gives Castle Point its name on Friday 1 April.

Hadleigh Castle has a rich history from the reign of Henry III when its building began in 1230 (which you can read about at the websites below). It has links with the Earls of Kent, the wives of Henry VIII, and was painted by John Constable. In the 1890s the Salvation Army bought the land and built a farm nearby which today has an excellent cafe.

On a fine day, one can see out to the wind farms in the North Sea to the east, and to Canary Wharf in Tower Hamlets to the west. And of course, directly south, down the escarpment on which the castle clings and across the mysterious mythic marshlands, the ever-widening Thames as she prepares herself for open sea, and the rolling hills of the PICT1201

lands of the Kentish. Back in the dim distant past, Essex was host to the Vikings - this was Danegeld country; and Kent was cleaved to Alfred's kingdom. And before that, St Cedd and his Northumbrian chums had brought the Celtic gospel to the East Saxons, while over the river St Augustine had roamed from Rome.

Now, in the 21st century, Hadleigh Castle is to be the venue for the 2012 London Olympics' Mountain Biking event (the other choice was Thurrock's Langdon Hills). The Castle has apparently been prepared for this.

Here the TGP will gather and pray, peeling back the palimpsest of history's many layers, just as many have before and no doubt do again in the future.

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The TGP group will be assembling at the Salvation Army tea rooms at 10am before walking over to the castle. After that some will stay for a light lunch at the cafe.

If you wish to join with the TGP on this adventure, please contact Tim Harrold on 07 929 878 089 or tim@transformationthurrock.com.

Transformation Thurrock has played a key role in facilitating the TGP Prayer Actions along the river since the start of 2009.

Don't forget the Thames Prayer Trip on the Pocahontas on Saturday 7 May. Please see the linked article.

Links to the history of Hadleigh:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadleigh_Castle
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/hadleigh-castle/
http://www.hadleighcountrypark.co.uk/HistoryCastle.htm
http://www.hadleighcountrypark.co.uk/HistorySA.htm

Tim Harrold, 21/03/2011