River blessing gives thanks to Wiltshire waterway

The Bishop of Ramsbury, Dr Andrew Rumsey, (left), and Mayor of Calne, Robert MacNaughton

The river Marden in Calne was thanked in a blessing ceremony on Saturday.

The event was the sixth river blessing organised by the Mayor of Calne, Robert MacNaughton this year.

He believes rivers are "living beings" and they are "being abused" with increasing evidence of pollution.

The Bishop of Ramsbury and a water maiden from Stroud conducted the blessing with crowds watching from the bank.

The blessing was followed by Japanese drumming, morris dancing and a children's raft race.

Mr MacNaughton, said: "Our rivers are being abused.

"I regard our rivers to be living beings, I regard them as having sentience and I think rivers are just being abused by stupid governments and stupid corporations."

Mr MacNaughton, who says he has 10 years experience in Druidry, said: "Whilst I can't do anything about government policy what I can do is come to rivers and say, you're great, we love you, please survive, don't die in these conditions.

"This is what the river blessings are doing, is blessing the rivers saying thank you to the river for looking after us for so long and it's now our turn to look after the river."

'Birthing new humanness'

The Bishop of Ramsbury, Dr Andrew Rumsey, and Tara a water maiden from Stroud gave the blessing

People of different faiths gathered on the bank of the river Marden for the blessing.

Mr MacNaughton said: "It doesn't matter if the Bishop goes to church and I don't.

"What's important is we're birthing a new compassionate humanness of wanting to look after our planet."

Mayors from Malmesbury, Marlborough, Highworth, Chippenham, Calne and Royal Wootton Bassett were joined by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire and the vice Chairman of Wiltshire Council for the ceremony

The Bishop of Ramsbury, Dr Andrew Rumsey said: "It's one of the more unusual events that I've got involved in throughout the year but I think it's fantastic.

"I feel really strongly about the health of our rivers that's partly why I'm here.

"Wiltshire chalk streams are one of the glories of the country in fact they're globally significant.

"And I think when our chalk streams begin to run like chicken soup rather than clear water - I think it's a reflection on our society.

"The blessing is a symbolic act to realise that the health of our communities and the health of the rivers is really closely linked."

Dozen of locals gathered on the river bank to watch the blessing

The blessing was ended by water maiden, Tara from Stroud, releasing a bouquet into the water with the words: "I invite everyone to put their love, gratitude and blessings into the flower.

"Your energy will be received and absorbed by all of the beautiful parts as they are given in the honouring of this spring time with all their beautiful colours and bounty.

"With our hearts we give you."

Japanese drummers played after the blessing