UK: Praying to the Source of the Thames

Published: September 18th, 2005

The Turn of the Tide, 2nd-30th October 2005

A Wave of Prayer from the Estuary to the Source of the River Thames

24-7prayer's Tim Harrold, from Thurrock, writes; "The Turn of the Tide is a vision to see churches and prayer groups on the north and south banks of the River Thames pray in tandem for 24 hours each, relaying the baton of prayer from the Estuary, through London and on to the Source, sending a tidal wave of God’s life-giving freshwater through the heart of Britain.

The vision for The Turn of the Tide came to me in November 2004 during a 24-7 prayer week at St Margaret’s Parish Church in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex. I was on top of the tower, looking across to the south, to the Thames – the Gateway to London. I began to pray, ‘Lord, turn the tide in this generation’, and Gandalf’s famous words came to me, ‘I come to you now at the turn of the tide’. I was also thinking about a prophetic word I’d heard concerning lights or beacons along the Thames. Also, Thurrock – the borough where I live – comes from an Anglo-Saxon word which means ‘a place where filthy water collects’; well, we’ve been praying for years that a wave of freshwater to flush away the filth. Out of this came the idea for The Turn of the Tide.

The Turn of the Tide starts on the north side at 6pm on Sunday 2 October at the ancient church of St Peter’s-by-the-Wall in Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex. St Cedd built this in 654 after he’d travelled down from Lindisfarne to bring the gospel to the East Saxons. We will be holding an all-night vigil there with Celtic liturgy the following morning.

Prayer centres from across the denominations have been established on both banks of the river right into London. When the prayer wave reaches the Central London Boiler Room on 21-22 October, we’ll be holding The Turn of the Tide gathering (watch this space!).

Three other Boiler Rooms are involved in The Turn of the Tide: Wandsworth Salvation Army, Staines and Reading.

The Turn of the Tide ends on 30 October with prayers at the Source of the Thames in Kemble, Gloucestershire.

What will be praying for?
A turn of the tide back to Jesus in this generation! If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14-16

Local concerns along one of the world’s most historically significant rivers, and for each other across the river. Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine. Ezekiel 47:12

The Thames Gateway and Thames Valley regions. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. Zechariah 9:10

London, the UK’s capital city, political and financial hub, multicultural centre with international influence, venue for the 2012 Olympics. Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream. Amos 5:24

Salvation, healing, grace and mercy for the lost. “Baal Perazim (The Master-Who-Explodes)… ‘As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies’.” 2 Samuel 5:20

At the time of writing, this is how the 28 days of The Turn of the Tide (673 hours continuous prayer – the clocks change on the last day!) is looking - each location praying from 6pm until 6pm:
 
Sun 2nd-Mon 3rd
Mon 3rd-Tue 4th 
Tue 4th-Wed 5th 
Wed 5th-Thu 6th 
Thu 6th-Fri 7th 
Fri 7th-Sat 8th
Sat 8th-Sun 9th  
Sun 9th-Mon 10th 
Mon 10th-Tue 11th  
Tue 11th-Wed 12th 
Wed 12th-Thu 13th 
 
Thu 13th-Fri 14th 
Fri 14th-Sat 15th  
Sat 15th-Sun 16th
Sun 16th-Mon 17th  
Mon 17th-Tue 18th
 
Tue 18th-Wed 19th
Wed 19th-Thu 20th
Thu 20th-Fri 21st
 
Fri 21st-Sat 22nd
Sat 22nd-Sun 23rd 
Sun 23rd-Mon 24th
Mon 24th-Tue 25th 
Tue 25th-Wed 26th
Wed 26th-Thu 27th  
Thu 27th-Fri 28th
Fri 28th-Sat 29th  
Sat 29th-Sun 30th   
St Peter’s-by-the-Wall, Bradwell, Essex
Great Wakering (TBC)
Christ Church, Thorpe Bay / Whitstable
Belle Vue Baptists, Southend
St Saviours, Leigh-on-Sea
Oasis, Benfleet (TBC)
Canvey Is. Methodists (TBC) / Hoo Parish Church
St Michael’s, Fobbing / Frindsbury Baptist Church
St Margaret’s, Stanford-le-Hope
St Catherine’s, East Tilbury (TBC)
Flying Angel Mission to Seafarers, Tilbury Docks / Gravesend (TBC)
St Mary’s, Little Thurrock
Grays Baptist Church
St Clement’s, West Thurrock
St Stephen’s, Purfleet / Erith Churches Together
“Across Havering” Churches / Abbey Wood, Thamesmead
“Across Havering” Churches / Woolwich
“Transform Newham” Churches (TBC) / Greenwich
“Transform Newham” Churches (TBC) / “The Bear”, Brockley
24-7 Prayer City of London Boiler Room
Wandsworth Salvation Army Boiler Room
St Stephen’s, Twickenham
24-7 Prayer West London Boiler Room, Staines
The Journey, Marlow/Maidenhead (TBC)
24-7 Prayer Reading Boiler Room
St Aldate’s Centre, Oxford
Lechlade (TBA)
Kemble (The Source) (TBA)

NB Parts of this info may change before the start of TTOTT.

If you live in the Thames region and want to be part of The Turn of the Tide, contact your nearest prayer centre, or me on tim@harrolds.wanadoo.co.uk. If you fancy a night in a 1350-year-old church without heating, lighting and loos, or an autumnal day in a meadow in the middle of the English countryside, let me know!

Let’s turn this tide and put Christ back at the centre!

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