THE custom of blessing the seas has been held at Duckpool for many years, writes Barry West.

The ceremony involves the ringing of the bell, and a wooden cross being cast on the waters, accompanied by prayers and hymns.

The revived tradition of Morwenstow’s ‘Blessing of the Sea’ service took place on the beach at Duckpool on the afternoon of Sunday, August 10. The first ever service was held on August 11, 1924, when more than 200 people attended.

The Rev Hugh Breton, the then vicar of Morwenstow, was quite clear about the reason for holding the service. He wanted to bless all the many ships and sailors who navigated this dangerous coastline. He especially wanted to remember all the sailors drowned and the ships which had been wrecked and for the many families who depended heavily on fish to keep them alive.

This year, 2019, the vicar of Kilkhampton and Morwenstow, the Rev Richard Ward-Smith, officiated. Bude Town Band played and the air was filled with the sound of song and praise for those that earn their living at sea, those that fish, save lives and keep everyone safe.

The ceremonial cross was cast into the sea by George Axworthy. The service attracted a large group of local worshippers as well as holidaying families taking their summer break on the rugged north coast of Cornwall.

‘Eternal Father, strong to save’ was sung and is known as ‘the sailors’ hymn’, adopted as the anthem of both the British and American navies. Addressing in successive verses the Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, it was written in several versions through the 1860s by William Whiting (1825-1878), choirmaster of Winchester College. Legend suggests that it was conceived as a gift to an anxious choirboy about to set sail for America.

Another local connection is with Robert Stephen Hawker, the eccentric vicar of Morwenstow. Robert was appointed vicar of Morwenstow, Cornwall’s most northerly parish, in 1835 until 1875.

One of his main concerns was to become the rescue of sailors from ships wrecked on the rocks of the local coastline. In 1842 the brig Caledonia was dashed to pieces, near to Sharpnose Point. It is said only one seaman survived and all others aboard were lost but, Robert ensured the survivor was nursed back to health, while giving a Christian burial to the nine crewmen who were washed up. The Caledonia’s white pitch-pine figurehead he also retrieved, and used as the churchyard’s grave marker, but is now inside the church as a lasting memorial.

He also built a hut on the cliff at Morwenstow, using timbers washed up from the Caledonia and two vessels that had been wrecked. He would sit on fine days composing his poetry, or preparing sermons in the peaceful tranquility, and during times of storm he would look into the grey waters for ships in distress. For many years he continued his gruesome and harrowing duty of recovering bodies from the sea.

Other hymns sung at the blessing included ‘For those in peril on the sea’, ‘Will your anchor hold in the storms of life’ and ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’.