A London History Walk...

...with a delightful American group initiated by  newly-ordained priest Fr Daniel Ciucci from Denver, Colorado. We began at Westminster Cathedral. It looks particularly fine on a sunny day under a blue sky, the great campanile soaring up...today, a solemn note:  the Union Jack was at half-past, along with others across London, to mark the deaths of the children and others in the Manchester  jihadist attack...

Then on down to the Abbey...there are always vast crowds of tourists queuing up to visit the Royal tombs etc. A fee is charged for that part of the Abbey - but we asked if we could just go into the nave to pray, and were shown into the area reserved for this. There are two lovely  large icons, one of Christ and one of Our Lady,  with banks of votive candles,   not far from the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.   The staff were welcoming, and it was a beautiful experience as  Fr Daniel led us in our prayers...

On to London Bridge and Mass at the Church of the Most Precious Blood. Numbers for weekday Mass here are in general good and are increasing - it is always notable, however, that over and above that,  there are always more on what should be Ascension Day (see note below about Feast Days)...

Lunch at a pub overlooking the river, and then on down the south bank, and across Tower Bridge to the Tower...

Later, as we were having some tea, a splendid parade came along - children with sticks, and clergy in surplices, and  the Mayor of Tower Hamlets in robes and chain, City aldermen  and Guildsmen, Thomas Boatmen with their oars...they were all there to Beat the Bounds for Ascension Day.  A perfect piece of authentic London pageantry, just what an American group ought to see! . We joined in to watch as the children duly beat the ground, and we all sang a hymn and so on...

This custom really began with Rogation Processions long long ago - walking around the parish to ask for a blessing on the crops in the fields...stopping to pray at the various places. This is how places like Gospel Oak got their names.