IT WAS two years ago, but memories of the Olympic Games are
still vivid in the dioceses of London and
Chelmsford. Their common boundary is on the
Knights Bridge, in the heart of the Olympic Park; so it was the
appropriate place for the clergy, and people from 11 churches of
the two dioceses, to come together to pray for the churches
surrounding the park, and to remember the contribution that both
dioceses made during the Games.
After walking to the park after their Sunday services, they were
met by the Bishop of Stepney, the Rt Revd Adrian Newman, from
London diocese, and the Bishop of Barking, the Rt Revd Peter Hill,
from Chelmsford, who together gave a blessing from their mutual
boundary. Prayers were said by an archdeacon from each diocese -
the Ven. Rachel Treweek, of Hackney, and the Ven. Elwin Cockett, of
West Ham.
"Meeting on the border allowed us to commemorate the positive
work we've achieved together previously, the 2012 Olympic Games
being just one example," Bishop Newman said. "It also marks the
continuation of this special relationship." The recently
consecrated Bishop of Barking said that, "as the new Bishop on the
block", he found it "great to hear about the tremendous support the
local churches had offered in terms of community initiatives during
the period of the Olympic Games and since".
After the final blessing and prayers, everybody joined together
for a picnic in the Olympic Park.