Brightlingsea Blessing & Reclaiming of the Waters

Where: Brightlingsea, Essex at the Hard
When: Sunday in late May/early June (near Ascension Day)
Time: Late morning to early afternoon - variable owing to tides (see Helpful Hints for current year timings)

 

Brightlingsea is the setting for a traditional Blessing associated with Rogationtide. Dignitaries of the Cinque Ports and civic officials in their regalia attend  a brief religious service which takes place on board ship at the Hard; this is relayed by loudspeakers from the local yacht club so that everyone can hear it. Following the Blessing, the dignitaries take to the water to lead the Smack Flotilla procession along the Brightlingsea Creek, past the Hard to West Ness for Reclaiming the Waters which asserts the rights of the people of Brightlingsea to use the waters in their Liberty, in a traditional boundary-marking custom akin to Beating the Bounds on land. The origins of this lie in a historic dispute of the local oystermen with those from Colchester over the position of West Ness and while this is no longer an issue today, the colourful custom is kept alive as part of the town’s maritime heritage. Expect lots of richly dressed dignitaries, generous sprinkling of the crowd during the Blessing and a loud cacophony of horn blowing, cheering and general mayhem as the boats leave the jetty.

Helpful Hints

In 2024 it should be on Sunday 9th June. (check church Facebook link/website below for more information).

Approximate times:

11.30am Assemble for procession & Town Criers address from St James steps,

11.45am Procession sets off

12 Noon, Service at Hard & blessing of boats

1.00pm Flotilla of Oyster Smacks & other vessels set off from Jetty , accompanied by “the Din” of horns etc, short voyage ‘beating the bounds’ to Brightlingsea Creek mouth where Waters blessed & toast given of “Gang-ho!”

Double check with the organisers for timings as this varies annually depending on the tides. All are welcome. The Flotilla route can be followed on foot to Bateman’s Tower at West Ness- you don’t need to be aboard to take part.

It usually happens in late May or early June. The date varied originally from year-to-year because Ascension Day is linked to the moveable feast of Easter and also nowadays the event has to be fitted into the local dignitaries’ calendar; the time varies also because of the tides. In 2019 the Blessing took place on Sunday June 2nd with the Town Crier’s address at 11.30 outside St James’, 12 noon at the Hard, and 1pm for Smacks leaving the jetty.

Click here for the event website: https://blessingofthewaters.co.uk

Click here for the Church Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CofEBrightlingsea/

Click here for the website of the Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea: http://www.cinqueportliberty.co.uk/

Twitter for the event (with lots of photos) may be found at @BlessWatersBsea

Click here for the Harbour Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/brightlingseaharbour/

Many thanks to Roger Tabor for the first 3 photos and for the helpful updates!

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