In case of danger
At lunchtime today, my wife and I were looking at the sea washing up against the coast at Moelfre, Anglesey, Wales. We often comment on the calming effect of a seascape. Where we were sitting we could see across Red Wharfe Bay as far as Llanddona and Penmon Point beyond it. Off Penmon Point is Ynys Seriol or Puffin island.
To our left was the headland from which the local lifeboat sets sail when sailors are "all at sea" and need help. Beyond it is the long sloping shelf of rock which contributed to the "Royal Charter" disaster back in the 19th century. Many people were returning from the Australian goldfields and were laden with gold in money belts. The ship's safe was also full of gold. The ship was the first one to have both steam power and sails. The engine was relatively underpowered. She was also an early iron hulled vessel.
On the day in question she had passed Holyhead and was proceding to Liverpool when she found herself in the grip of a storm. Every anchor was thrown out to try to halt her movement towards the Anglesey shore but each one failed. Eventually she hit the submerged shelf of rock and started to break up. A man, watching from the cliffs, could not believe his eyes as the ship and her passengers and crew struggled in the storm. Nothing could be done and the end result was that a huge number of souls perished that night.
The vicar of the local parish church is remembered for the efforts he made to console and counsel the families who were bereaved. Many of the victims were buried in his churchyard and local people contributed to a tombstone to remember them. About three years later ill health took the vicar and it was said to have been brought on by the stress of trying to help so many grieving families. Even to this day money is available to ensure his grave is kept clean and tidy. He will always be remembered for giving of himself when the occasion arose.
Also buried in the same churchyard is Dic Evans, one time coxwain of the Moelvre lifeboat. He was a winner of no less than two gold medals for bravery in helping to save lives when ships were wrecked. One of the foundering ships was lost at almost the same spot as the "Royal Charter." Moelfre has an amazing history as a lifeboat station.
Last year, on Lifeboat day in the village,the lifeboat launched and manoevered before huge crowds. An RAF helicopter joined her to show how the service operated. The cliffs were populated by a huge crowd. There was nowhere left to park for latecomers. What an occasion and how proud they are! At the end of the display the D Class inflatable was stowed away in its section of the lifeboat house. The all weather lifeboat was winched up the slipway and was being washed down by the crew to rid the hull of salt encristation. Suddenly the maroons went up and this time the crew had to launch a seond time, this time for real. You never know when the call will come.
In and around the village of Moelfre live many brave men who are prepared to sail when the weather is so bad than no one should set sail. They are all, with the exception of the coxwain and the mechanic, volunteers. When the emergency is announced they drop whatever they are doing and get to the lifeboat with all speed.
If you are out in any sort of vessel off our coast you can rest easy, knowing there are countless men and women trained and ready for any emergency. They are there for us.
It is by no means a coincidence that many prayers and hymns over the years have used sailing and safe harbours in their imagery. It is a reminder that when we are out on life's stormy seas soemone is on watch for us. Our individual lives matter greatly to our God. Yet so many people ignore him as if he is not there. The sea replicates our lives. I can walk down to my local beach and watch the same sea when it is flat calm and when it is so furious the surfers are out. Its moods and its changes of mood are just like we experience in life. So we know that God is there and if called upon can come and stand up in our boat and say, "Peace, be still!"
I am sure we don't know how lucky we are.
To our left was the headland from which the local lifeboat sets sail when sailors are "all at sea" and need help. Beyond it is the long sloping shelf of rock which contributed to the "Royal Charter" disaster back in the 19th century. Many people were returning from the Australian goldfields and were laden with gold in money belts. The ship's safe was also full of gold. The ship was the first one to have both steam power and sails. The engine was relatively underpowered. She was also an early iron hulled vessel.
On the day in question she had passed Holyhead and was proceding to Liverpool when she found herself in the grip of a storm. Every anchor was thrown out to try to halt her movement towards the Anglesey shore but each one failed. Eventually she hit the submerged shelf of rock and started to break up. A man, watching from the cliffs, could not believe his eyes as the ship and her passengers and crew struggled in the storm. Nothing could be done and the end result was that a huge number of souls perished that night.
The vicar of the local parish church is remembered for the efforts he made to console and counsel the families who were bereaved. Many of the victims were buried in his churchyard and local people contributed to a tombstone to remember them. About three years later ill health took the vicar and it was said to have been brought on by the stress of trying to help so many grieving families. Even to this day money is available to ensure his grave is kept clean and tidy. He will always be remembered for giving of himself when the occasion arose.
Also buried in the same churchyard is Dic Evans, one time coxwain of the Moelvre lifeboat. He was a winner of no less than two gold medals for bravery in helping to save lives when ships were wrecked. One of the foundering ships was lost at almost the same spot as the "Royal Charter." Moelfre has an amazing history as a lifeboat station.
Last year, on Lifeboat day in the village,the lifeboat launched and manoevered before huge crowds. An RAF helicopter joined her to show how the service operated. The cliffs were populated by a huge crowd. There was nowhere left to park for latecomers. What an occasion and how proud they are! At the end of the display the D Class inflatable was stowed away in its section of the lifeboat house. The all weather lifeboat was winched up the slipway and was being washed down by the crew to rid the hull of salt encristation. Suddenly the maroons went up and this time the crew had to launch a seond time, this time for real. You never know when the call will come.
In and around the village of Moelfre live many brave men who are prepared to sail when the weather is so bad than no one should set sail. They are all, with the exception of the coxwain and the mechanic, volunteers. When the emergency is announced they drop whatever they are doing and get to the lifeboat with all speed.
If you are out in any sort of vessel off our coast you can rest easy, knowing there are countless men and women trained and ready for any emergency. They are there for us.
It is by no means a coincidence that many prayers and hymns over the years have used sailing and safe harbours in their imagery. It is a reminder that when we are out on life's stormy seas soemone is on watch for us. Our individual lives matter greatly to our God. Yet so many people ignore him as if he is not there. The sea replicates our lives. I can walk down to my local beach and watch the same sea when it is flat calm and when it is so furious the surfers are out. Its moods and its changes of mood are just like we experience in life. So we know that God is there and if called upon can come and stand up in our boat and say, "Peace, be still!"
I am sure we don't know how lucky we are.
posted by Keith Alexander at Sunday, February 19, 2006
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