AN initiative put forward by Cllr Robert MacNaughton to highlight the pollution problem in our rivers and waterways has, without doubt, split public opinion - but in the year the town has celebrated Joseph Priestley's discovery of oxygen in Calne, is there any place for 'superstition versus science' ?
Co-chair of Priestley 250 John Boaler, certainly doesn't think so, he feels the river blessings undermine the work being done to celebrate Priestley and the importance of science with Calne being a ‘Town of Discovery’.
Cllr Robert MacNaughton organised the first blessing in 2023 and since then, the event has seen a steady increase in interest. The ceremonies have been carried out at the River Marden in Calne and more are planned at other locations in the South West. During the ceremonies, the Bishop of Ramsbury, Dr Andrew Rumsey, and Tara a water maiden from Stroud give the blessing to the river, ending with the release of a bouquet of flowers into the water. Tara then invites attendees to 'put their love, gratitude and blessings into the flowers'.
So, do these ceremonies make Joseph Priestley turn in his grave? And do they undermine the work that has been done by the Priestley 250 group to really put Calne on the map as a town of science and discovery?
Mr Boaler told us: “In the very summer that we are celebrating Joseph Priestley’s discovery of oxygen 250 years ago, while living in Calne, it is demoralising to read about river blessings in the town.
"Priestley was a leading figure in the English Enlightenment, a rationalist who rejected superstition and believed that reason should guide our actions and thoughts. Though the term used in the 18th century, Priestley was a ‘natural philosopher’, today we would call him a scientist. Dr Norman Beale, who recently gave a talk on ‘Joseph Priestley in Calne’ said he had no doubt that had he lived in more recent times he would have been awarded a Nobel Prize for his scientific discoveries."
Cllr MacNaughton argues that the presence of so many local dignitaries at the blessings proves that the health of rivers is a key common concern. Some of those attending the blessing who didn't necessarily believe the ritual could heal the river, commented that they felt the event drew attention to the importance of our rivers and encouraged people to be more aware of the pollution we subject the rivers to and to consider what we can do about it.
John Boaler added "I fully share the concern of the Friends of the a Marden Valley about the degradation of our water courses but their use of river blessings to try to draw attention to this muddies the waters. Superstition and science are wholly incompatible.
"You can’t solve the problems of river pollution by casting petals onto the water or singing. The polluters need to be challenged and confronted with hard facts and scientific evidence.
"Joseph Priestley significantly advanced understanding of our world by his open-minded, experimental work on airs and gases. He would have had no time for river blessings."
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