Before the Romans arrived in England the only way of crossing the River Thames was by ford or ferry. But the Romans needed a faster way of getting to Colchester, their provincial capital, and built a bridge. With the northern end resting on high ground a small trading settlement was established, and thus the bridge itself became the genesis for the city of London.
Over the centuries any number of London Bridges have come and gone, most notably Henry II’s tribute to Thomas Becket, which stood for some 600 years; and as the bridge has remained so the community around it has grown. Now numbering some 9 million people London is home to a community gathered from across the globe. As such it stands as a testimony to the power of our ability to overcome our differences and live together in unity.
The appalling act of terrorism committed on the bridge on Saturday 3rd June 2017, was an attempt to disrupt that unity and cause hatred and division. But against the noise and violence of those dreadful 8 minutes, the bridge stands as a silent witness to a far greater power that draws people together and unites them as a common family of human beings.