A good gathering of people turned out for an open-air service as herring were blessed and prayers were said for those venturing out to sea.

And despite the light rain there was a good turnout on the cliff top at Pakefield in Lowestoft for the annual Blessing of the Herring ceremony on Sunday afternoon.

Lowestoft Journal: Blessing of the Herring service 2023. Rev Sharon Lord. Picture: Mick HowesBlessing of the Herring service 2023. Rev Sharon Lord. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

With umbrellas much in evidence the congregation gathered on the green opposite The Oddfellows Arms public house for the open-air service, which was led by the Rector of Pakefield, Rev Sharon Lord.

The service opened with the hymn ‘Eternal Father Strong to Save’ and Rev Lord then thanked the local fisherman Marty Bloomfield who had provided the herrings.

She also expressed her gratitude to landlord Charlie Atkins and all the team at The Oddfellows for their hard work and help.

Lowestoft Journal: Oddfellows landlord Charlie Atkins with a tray of cooked herring at the Blessing the Herring 2023 service in Pakefield. Picture: Mick Howes Oddfellows landlord Charlie Atkins with a tray of cooked herring at the Blessing the Herring 2023 service in Pakefield. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

After reading the fisherman’s psalm, Rev Lord led a prayer to the "fishermen, lifeboatmen and sailors" who all risked their lives going to sea - before blessing the ‘Silver Darlings’ - as the herring are known locally.

Cooked herrings were then offered for sale at the Oddfellows pub opposite the green to raise funds for the church, while Lowestoft Longshoremen shanty singers entertained drinkers inside.

Lowestoft Journal: Lowestoft Longshoremen warming up before singing shanties in the Oddfellows Arms. Picture: Mick HowesLowestoft Longshoremen warming up before singing shanties in the Oddfellows Arms. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

The event is organised annually to coincide with the arrival of the herring off the coast of Lowestoft.

Rev Sharon Lord said: "This is the sixth Blessing of the Herring that I have led, and we have been so blessed with the weather and despite it being a bit drizzly it hasn’t put people off from attending.

"We have had an amazing crowd here this afternoon and now we have got blue sky.

"The herring arrived this week, so we know they are fresh.

"We are really grateful to the Oddfellows for putting this on and cooking the fish.

"The funds from the sale of the herring will go to the church tower which needs a lot of repairs, and we have to raise about a quarter of a million pounds to have it restored.

"We have a long way to go, and every amount helps."