The Mayflower sailed from Rotherhitheand the River defines London
More travels; this weekend it was Rotherhithe; the occasion, a 20th of priesting. But Fr Nicholls who was the birthday boy was actually born in the year of my deaconing. The 50th anniversary of that is on Saturday next. O tempora, O mores! Especially the tempora bit.
So, since it was Corpus Xti, I spoke about the passing of time, and the need to keep our Wills up to date (how good the Visitation of the Sick is about keeping our affairs in order). Then, naturally, to the Last Will and Testament of Our Blessed Lord - who gave it to us at the Last Supper.
What a great Sanctuary; though it would be easier using it as intended, Eastward facing. For all that, the whole occasion was lovely, with a Procession and Benediction to conclude.
I spoke about Executors; no use relying on friends, they can die before us. Institutions like Banks can be very
expensive - and as we have seen recently, they may well not survive. Our Lord relied on his friends, but not just them; on their succession. Which brings us, of course, to the problem of who is and who is not a bishop. I left the question hanging - for the people and their priest to resolve. What a lovely and diverse bunch they are there on the South Bank of the Thames; and mercifully untainted by "South Bank Religion".I'd like to be buried in a graveyard with a slide in it.
