Canon Giles Goddard, vicar of St John’s Waterloo, has been on the South Bank’s Thames Path to bless its trees.
The riverside trees, within his Waterloo parish, are now thought to be safe from being felled for the proposed Garden Bridge.
This follows the Mayor London’s decision to withhold all further funding. Planning permission for the controversial crossing lapses later this year.
Over forty parishioners and other nearby residents were present for the ceremony on Saturday afternoon.
It was preceded by the reading of a quotation about the environment from Pope Francis’ installation sermon and the singing of All things bright and beautiful.
The hymn includes reference to ‘tall trees in the greenwood’ and water.
After blessing the water, Canon Giles walked along the Thames Path sprinkling the trees on both sides.
