The annual Blessing of the Boats ceremony takes place tomorrow, beginning at 9am.

The Right Reverend Nicholas Dill, Bishop of Bermuda, will lead the procession from St George’s Harbour to the Chapel of Ease dock in St David’s.

The Chapel of Ease Anglican Church has a special history and relationship with the maritime culture of Bermuda. The tradition of Blessing of the Boats dates back over 170 years.

Reflecting on what it means to continue this tradition, and its impact on the maritime community, Bishop Dill said: “Bermuda has a very long maritime history, we are dependent as a country upon the sea for transportation, for food, and for our tourism product. To seek God’s blessing on those who work, live, and travel by the sea is an important part of what the church can do.

“It is a part of our legacy as Bermudians, so it is always a privilege to meet those involved in this industry, meet fellow travellers on the way, and have the opportunity to pray with and for them is a blessing.”

Before St David’s became connected to St George’s by bridges, an islander would need to set sail to travel between the two. With a substantial population living on St David’s at the time, the Anglican Church wanted to cater to their congregation there.

“There was already a church, St Peter’s, but there was a significant population in St David’s, and rather than having the people of St David’s row across every Sunday to go to church, they saw it was more prudent for the clergy person to come from the other direction – to go from St George’s where they were based, out to St David’s,” Bishop Dill said.

“They built this church called the Chapel of Ease as a place where they could meet to worship. Bishop Edward Feild was the one to bless that place.”

In 1849, Bishop Feild was transported by way of water to consecrate the tiny Chapel of Ease. On his journey through St George’s Harbour, he blessed the boats that were present on his journey. Since that initial voyage, a serving bishop continues this tradition once a year, making the journey from St George’s to Chapel of Ease dock to bless the boats and their occupants.

Locals in the area are familiar with this tradition and many come out to participate.

“Some people will come by in a canoe, while others will come by in a large-scale commercial fishing boat,” said Bishop Dill. “They are aware and it is fun but it also brings God’s presence into everything we do.

“The visitors often express surprise and delight when offered to pray for them. We go to each boat and make the invitation, and it is very rare for them to say no; occasionally they do, but when they do accept they receive a certificate, and it becomes a part of their experience sailing through Bermuda.”

He added: “Sometimes you have families journeying across the Atlantic on small boats. Sometimes you have those involved in races and other things, and I think in every situation people are very pleased to know that someone is praying for them, that we are happy to receive them, happy to make sure that they have a safe haven while they are here, and also know that God is going to be with them as they journey into the deep and often unknown of what the sea brings.”

The journey from St George’s Harbor to Chapel of Ease dock is made possible by the assistance of the Sea Cadets. The service starts on the dock at 9am; each seaman has the opportunity to drive past the Bishop and receive a personal blessing. Each boat blessed receives a certificate to commemorate the event.

After the service the bishop embarks on a pilot boat or commercial boat, blessing any boat found within the harbour on the way back.

The Blessing of the Boats service is open to all seafarers and watercraft that pass by.