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The Master, Wardens, Court and Company joined together with friends for this service of dedication at All Hallows by the Tower. The service commemorates the life of Sir Hugh Myddelton (1560 – 1631) who constructed the New River from Hertfordshire in 1613 to bring fresh water to the City of London.

The service was led by the Vicar and Company Chaplain the Revd Nicol Kinrade who addressed the Company overflowing with references to the significance of water.  Below is the full text of her super address based on the readings Genesis 26.17-22 & Revelation 22.1-5.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

If you want to know how wonderful water is, the Bible is chock full of praise to God for its creation, its power and beauty, its living giving and healing properties.  And anyone who has stood in awe looking at a waterfall, or sat beside a babbling brook of sparkling water will feel its importance.  But oh how important it is that we don’t take beautiful clear water for granted.  As Benjamin Franklin once said, “When the well is dry, we’ll know the worth of water.”

Our first passage from the Book of Genesis is a fascinating one, because it underlines how important water was to a desert people.  As Isaac began to change from a nomadic life to a settled one growing crops, he needed a steady supply of water.  So he dug wells.  And desert people know the worth of water.  The relationship between the Philistines and Isaac began to deteriorate, heading to conflict.  Control the water and you control the crops, the land, the people. Less water as a wonder, but instead water as a weapon.  Isaac however found a solution.  He dug more wells, until there was enough water for everyone to access.  And these peoples didn’t feel the need to control all the water, just enough to survive and thrive.

They are, in fact, a good model for us.  Between them they acknowledged their shared needs, and found a way for all to benefit.  And from the first of the book of the Bible to the last, the Book of Revelation, we are shown why water matters, because it is through water that health and wellbeing comes.  The river of the water of life, edged  each side with the tree of life, is such a beautiful image of flourishing.  As W H Auden said, “Many people have sadly lived without love, but not one without water.”  It’s a reminder of the importance of the work you do, in your individual jobs and together as the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators.

Water is an increasingly high profile topic.  For people in Kent and Sussex who were without water following Storm Goretti, they made their feelings clear about the lack of such a basic utility. Cleanness of rivers and beaches is often on the news.  And it should be – there is work to be done.  Really important work.  Of course the Philistines and Isaac quarrelled over access to water.  Of course we should care about the quality of our water now.  And it’s not just about us.  As Mahatma Gandhi said, “The earth, the air, the land, and the water are not an inheritance from our forefathers but on loan from our children. So, we have to handover to them at least as it was handed over to us.”

What you do matters.  That’s why here, at your home church, we pray for you regularly.  We give thanks to God for you, and look to support you in all we can.  This year, be the intervention which brings God’s gifts to the many, and may God’s grace flow through all you do.

Amen.

Organist and Director of Music David Cook channelled our enthusiastic singing with a selection of music and hymns on the themes of water and the environment.

After the service court members gathered in front of the Tower of London where we were joined by friends of the Company.

We then processed to Trinity House for lunch, successfully avoiding the rain.