Archbishop's car at Bradwell's historic church
OK this one's a bit tricky. A year ago my mother and I visited the ancient church of St Peter-on-the-wall at Bradwell on Sea, Essex. All these pictures have laid in my backfile ever since for a number of reasons... some of them legal ones!
While we were there we had an encounter with the Most Reverend Jonathan Blake, presiding archbishop of the Open Episcopal Church. The first mum and I were aware of him was when we got to the car park at St Peter-on-the-wall and saw the Archbishop's bright red "Ghostbusters" car, complete with emergency stripe, stickers and rooftop flashing lights, parked in the car park.
It has 'ON CALL BISHOP' written on the bonnet in reverse lettering so it can be read in a rear view mirror and his website address is on the side:
www.bishopjonathanblake.com/
The website is an interesting read and reveals archbishop Blake is
something of a controversial figure. A former CofE curate he dropped
out of the CofE and, after a spell in advertising, he returned to
religion but via his own church movement. He once conducted a gay
wedding on TV's 'Richard and Judy'. As his website reveals, he then
sued a national newspaper for libel following their report of the TV
programme. I found all this out later of course.
His vehicle seemed very odd and it got odder as we slowly walked up to the chapel. Despite a stiff breeze blowing across the marshes the smell of incense hit us about 30 yards from the door and - peering in through the incense smoke - we could see the archbishop conducting what turned out to be a very long ordination service for another vicar. He had a congregation of four plus a female helper and the said new vicar. The archbishop was dressed in white with a mitre and white gloves to match.
While we hung around waiting for the service to end one of the 'ladies of the church' arrived on her bike from Bradwell to do the bookstall and flowers and I asked her who he was. Her reply was: "I have no idea, he just appears to have just taken over..." The church is a long way from the village and is semi-redundant but cared-for by English Heritage and the local parish as one of the oldest Christian buildings in the UK. It gets used for pilgrimages and occasional ad-hoc services.
The archbishop was happy to pose for photos (I refrained) but I did take a few general shots of the service taking place.
I'd like to say more but I won't - you had to BE there!
Comments and faves
Jan Egil Kristiansen (49 months ago | reply)
But we can't really see his bonnet in the mirror, can we? Maybe from the rear-view camera of a bus. If serious, he should use taller letters, as we see them from a low point of view. Posing as an emergency vehicle - posing is what this guy is about?
Dan Harrod (49 months ago | reply)
How very odd ! I've never seen anything quite like it !
Whipper_snapper (49 months ago | reply)
I think Jan has a good point about the lettering. It actually repeats on the car's roof as well, how many helicopters use rear view mirrors?
Dan... you just had to BE there!
Martin Beek (49 months ago | reply)
I'd not seen anything like this really, I guess ecentricities is what make Britain the unique nation it is. Perhaps we should have a group for church cars, you know Popemobiles and the like, this would certainly qualify as one of the most strange. An interesting posting, certainly worth an article in a paper, perhaps it'll get one.
Jan Egil Kristiansen (49 months ago | reply)
Seems like material for a pool out there. But a group that is a bit difficult to delimit. Just how eccentric need it be, and how closely related to a priest or a church? I guess the blindfolded driver of flickr.com/photos/caro_guzik/495088275/ should qualify on eccentricity, but lots of other Jesus buses are more boring.
FlickrCrazy Guy (48 months ago | reply)
Say it with a photograph !
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Seth Gaines (48 months ago | reply)
Carrying on in the tradition of 'Da Bishop'. "We wuz too late." Personally, I'd have kept the Firebird.
Arty Smokes (deaf mute) (47 months ago | reply)
Bizarre. I would have liked to see his face to see if that was also a bit backwards. He's probably on Google though. Everyone is.
bishopjonathanblake (44 months ago | reply)
In response to some of the above. The service was the ordination of a priest. I take services all over the country and internationally, in any venue and at any location. I believe that the resources of the Christian faith and spirituality should be available to everyone. Hence I have helped pioneer a social revolution that has taken place over the last two decades making the sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, Eucharist and all other services available in gardens, homes, hill tops, pubs, clubs, beauty spots and all places that people's imaginations and choices allow.
These services are of every form and culture; some as the ordination service ancient and involved, others entierly modern and fresh, but all designed appropriately to the situation to try and ensure that they express ,with integrity the aspirations and beliefs of those involved.
This necessitates me travelling widely and so the car is prepared as it is to enable me to stop to offer help if people are in need at the roadside. From accidents to flat tyres, to muggings, to having run out of petrol; all manner of problems come my way, and as the Good Samaritan sought to help ,so it is part of my calling to do the same. I hope to be available to those in need 24/7 practically as well as spiritually.
Its not an easy world nor is it easy at times to cope but it becomes an even more wonderful one when we try and help each other.
By the way, the words on the bonnet are in reverse so that a car in front can read them through their rear mirror. The words on the top of the car are not in reverse nor are any of the others, so its not as strange as it may appear.
Who knows, perhaps I may stop to help you one day or come to baptise your child; perhaps our paths will cross but whatever may God bless you and bring you light, love and blessing.
++Jonathan
Whipper_snapper (44 months ago | reply)
I think we were all aware of why the lettering reversed itself.
It is an unusual and and idiosyncratic vehicle.
dirtie22 (33 months ago | reply)
Doing Gods work comes in different ways, mine may be a bit srange to many as well. But I know Jesus worked on this earth for people, just as Jonathan does. By the way, i have not met him but i have met Jesus, and he approves.