The Blessing of the Fisheries
The first definite mention of the Blessing of the Fisheries occurred in the
local paper, The Folkestone Express, in July 1893 when mention was made of the
low tide.In those days the ceremony was a moveable occasion and held at high
tide on the Sunday nearest St Peter’s Day.
But there is a full account of a Patronal festival eight years earlier when the
fisher families enjoyed a full day of activities, including sports and tea on
the East Cliff, supported by a string band, and ending with fireworks in the St
Andrew’s ground illuminated with Chinese lanterns. It does not seem improbable
that at some time during the day Fr Ridsdale, the parish priest, would have been
asked to bless the fishing boats and their nets, and the families who sailed in
them. At about this time the Orthodox Church in Margate began holding an annual
Blessing of the Seas.
In its heyday before and after World War I there were long processions that
passed over Radnor Bridge and down the then Dover Street to the fishmarket.
There could be up to one hundred fishermen and their daughters there dressed in
floral skirts and head scarves and carrying posies, while sons wore brown smocks
and one group carried the model of a fishing boat.
This boat is still brought up to St Peter’s Church on the day of the ceremony by
Mrs May’s family, beautifully decorated with flowers. Members of the Town
Councils of Folkestone and Hythe turned out in full, and three or four bands
played in procession and again in the fishmarket.
The blessing with holy water and incense has been carried out by distinguished
bishops over the years, including from far away. In 1955 it was the Bishop of
the Windward Isles, in 1957 the Bishop of Korea and the following year the
Bishop of Chota Nagpur. In 1958 television reception had come to Folkestone and
the BBC decided to film the occasion. This brought many hundreds of visitors to
the town and Tram Road, Tontine Street were closed and lorries arriving by ferry
held up to allow the great procession to pass by.
This years Blessing of the Fisheries ceremony takes place the same day as Town
Sunday on Sunday 24th June at 3pm in the Harbour.
Article from Go Folkestone Newsletter June 2007
