THE ARCHBISHOP of Canterbury arrived in Greenwich this afternoon to mark the 1000th anniversary of the martyrdom of St Alfege.
Following a service earlier in the day at Southwark Cathedral, Dr Rowan Williams travelled with the Bishop of Southwark to Greenwich on a chartered Thames Clipper while pilgrims made the journey on foot.
The Primate was met at Greenwich Pier by the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, other dignitaries and local school children from St Alfege Primary School.
Sheltering from the rain under umbrellas, the procession made its through the Meridian Estate and ended in the school hall of St Alfege Primary School where schoolchildren performed for the Archbishop – quite brilliantly, it should be noted.
He then knelt down and gave a short talk on reconciliation, telling them: “don’t leave it a thousand years before making friends” with enemies.
The procession then left the school, with the sun having broken through and joined by pupils walking inside model Viking ships, and snaked through Greenwich town centre. Dr Williams intervened to help when the masts of one ship got stuck under a sign in Greenwich Church Street.
Archbishop helps release a stuck Viking ship
Upon arriving at St Alfege Church, the Archbishop was met by actors in an Anglo Saxon renactment camp. He addressed the audience that had gathered to hear him:
“We’ve come to a place which we all share together as Christians, a place where we see someone actually giving their life for what is of most concern to God.
“That’s what we’re here to celebrate. Thank you for commemorating one of my greatest and most wonderful predecessors and I’m also grateful to the person who’s taking the place of Alfege this afternoon, rather than myself.”
After leading a prayer amongst those present, Dr Williams watched a reconstruction of Alfege’s murder and spent time talking to the crowd that had filled the church courtyard’s green.
The Primate ended his visit to SE10 by taking part in a packed service of commemoration in St Alfege Church. The re-enactment camp will remain at St Alfege until the weekend.
Bishop of Southwark talks to members of the re-enactment camp.
Watch a reconstruction of the boning of Alfege
Archbishop of Canterbury welcomed at Greenwich Pier
they re-enacted the Boning of St. alphege ! Is this going on tour ? How did i miss this ….i always say “if you know that the Vikings murdered the AB of C down the end of your street – it sort of makes you feel better about the neighbourhood.”