36. Beckynton Memorial Service


On Sunday 15 January I attended the annual Service at Wells Cathedral in commemoration of Bishop Thomas Beckynton of Bath and Wells, who in 1452 authorised the construction of a conduit from St Andrew’s well to supply water to the people of Wells. Remains of the conduit are still a highly visible feature of the city to this day. 

This was a very similar event to our own annual Myddelton Service which takes place on 23 January (with in the case of Wells a procession of local civic leaders rather than ours of liverymen).

Services such as these, along with the well blessings which are such a feature of various parts of rural Britain, are a useful reminder that we cannot take our supply of clear and wholesome water for granted. Without water there is no life.

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