Homily-The Baptism of Frederick William Wright

View of Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament with a Hay Barge by James Francis Danby (1816–1875)

A homily given at the baptism of Frederick William Wright at St Mary le Bow on Saturday 21st September 2024 inspired by one of the readings chosen for the service – ‘Composed upon Westminster Bridge’ by William Wordsworth.

Why are we here? 

 

Well, one answer to that question is that we are here because of a hidden river. This church and the area around it is here because of a river that is still there - but we can no longer see it.

 

The River Walbrook starts somewhere in what is now Islington and flows into the Thames. It allowed the Romans to land their boats safely away from the ebb and flow of the tide and create what became the City of London on its banks either side. The River Walbrook was key to the growth and flourishing of the City.

 

Most of the hundreds of thousands of people who live and work and visit the Square Mile today walk about above the course of the River without realising it is there. 

 

But occasionally we get a glimpse. 

 

If you stand near a drain next to the Mansion House on a very quiet day you can just about hear the River gurgling below. And on a hot day you can get a whiff of it too! But don’t linger too long - the security guards might think you are up to no good! 

 

Perhaps it’s better to go along the street a bit to the Bloomberg Arcade, where there’s a sculpture that was designed to remind us of the forgotten river flowing under-foot.

 

There are no funny sounds or smells around this piece of corporate art! The bronze layers cast in a way that mimics the mud and plants on the rivers edge are sprayed regularly with disinfectant!

 

A sanitised reminder, but a reminder nonetheless of the hidden river flowing beneath our feet. The reason why the City is here. A connection between our lives and the lives of those who have walked here before us.

 

 

People who visit the River Jordan today - and take a coach trip to the site where Jesus is thought to have been baptised – are often surprised to discover that it’s not quite the torrent of beautiful blue water that is depicted in works of art.  

 

In fact, when I visited, it was rather more like the River Walbrook. Small, quite slow moving and a little smelly. Although these days the water in the Jordan is probably cleaner than the rivers here!

 

After stepping down the muddy banks to stand in the River Jordan to be baptised, the Holy Spirit descended upon Christ from on high and God declared “this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”.

In following in the footsteps of Jesus, at his baptism in a few moments, Frederick will become one of God’s adopted children. Another of His beloved, in whom he is well pleased. 

 

Frederick’s parents will be pleased to hear that we will not be asking him to stand in muddy water. But his baptism will be no less real. 

 

In the bible we read that through our baptism we take on a new identity. We become part of one great family of faith. 

 

A family that connects us not only to those who have been baptised here in the Square Mile, but throughout the world and across all time - all the way back to Christ. 

 

Our shared identity as baptised people is something upon which nearly every Christian denomination agrees. A cause for celebration in itself!

 

 

 

In baptism we become like tributaries of one great river. A river which is the foundation of who and what we are and is key to our growth and flourishing. A river that is flowing towards a new City. A new Kingdom. 

 

A river of divine love. Of belonging. Of meaning. Of purpose. Of faith. Of hope. The source of which is God.

 

I’m not sure whether or not Frederick will understand this now. But that river will always be there. Often hidden. But there will be times in his life when he glimpses it. Rediscovers it.

 

Just as we might get an inkling of the presence of the River Walbrook under foot as we walk about the City. 

Just as Wordsworth glimpsed the deep calm of the River Thames as he crossed Westminster Bridge, before it vanished beneath the smog and clamour of the working day.

 

 

Much of what the church does is about helping us rediscover the divine beauty of that hidden river. To remember our unity as children of God. And to learn to live it. 

 

I don’t need to tell you that it has got its work cut out on that score. That’s why we recognise that baptism is just the start of a continual process of rediscovery that we call a life of discipleship.  

 

Discipleship is learning to allow that torrent of God’s love to be the driving force in our lives – driving us to be the person that he has made us to be; and to respect that same God given freedom in each and every person we meet. 

 

 

Uncovering that hidden river can be inspiring and affirming. But it can also be challenging and disturbing. It can cleanse and renew us and at the same time knock us for six, especially when our lives have turned away from love. 

 

Frederick - like the rest of us - will need help along the way. Guidance from God through prayer and worship and study of the scriptures but he’ll also need help from each of you. His parents, godparents, sponsors, family and friends. 

In a moment we will repeat our promises to live that life of love – to follow the life of Christ - both for our own good and as an example to Frederick and to each other. 

We will renew our desire to become the person that God has made us to be. 

We will reaffirm our identity as children of God – our connection to the past, present and future and to each other. 

For a moment, we will glimpse the world around us anew. Like Wordsworth on Westminster Bridge. We will be aware of the Holy Spirit at work. Which is always there but that we so often overlook. 

Like a hidden river. 

That’s why we are here.

Image : View of Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament with a Hay Barge by James Francis Danby (1816–1875) https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/view-of-westminster-bridge-and-the-houses-of-parliament-with-a-hay-barge-213817