Hackney Marsh and the Round Chapel

Almost unheard of for us - we did not move the boat at all! We moored in the spot overnight so that we could go to Clapton Park URC Church for their morning service at 11 am. Elizabeth, their minister, we knew from our time in Milton Keynes. It was about 20 minutes walk - perhaps a little less than we estimated but it was as well to have time in hand as this is unfamiliar territory.

Two night's mooring

We were in good time and it was good to meet Elizabeth and her husband Peter (who is learning to play the mandolin with which he contributes to the music group!)

The Round Chapel

Some time ago, the church had dwindled to very small numbers and they were unable to maintain the huge Round Chapel building.The main part was sold to a local heritage trust for use as a community facility whilst the church rooms were retained. Not only do they hold their own morning service there, another room is used by a black community church and various weekday activities use the space.

Clapton Park URC Church

It was a welcoming service - perhaps 35 with a number of young children - and at the end we had to explain ourselves as part of the 'news' session where various members of the congregation contribute their personal news. Amazingly, one of the congregation, who works for the Church Urban Fund, knows Cornwall and visits quite frequently with a project led by someone we know well!

After coffee we walked back - there was a church meeting so we could not stay too long to chat - and took in some of the Sunday street stalls. There was quite a variety of food types on offer amongst the usual collection of 'antiques', books, hardware and so on.

Sculpture at Footbridge 16

Back at the boat it was a late lunch with soup that Christine had prepared before we set out. We took a good look at the map, aerial photos and blogs and concluded that the next stretch might be difficult for mooring as there are many long term moored boats after a while. As a result we took the quite radical step of declaring ourselves stopped for another night at Hackney Marsh! At least last night we were able to find a satellite tv signal, even if a bit weakened by buildings in the wrong place.