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Pat Spry 

Giving the congregation posies made Pat's audience visualise living without sanitation.

Credit: Pat Spry

Pat gave a talk at the 150th anniversary of the re-building of St Peter's Church in Frampton Cotterell by linking it up with Britain's 'Great Stink' of 1858, a time when death and illness from diarrhoeal diseases was rife.

Almost half of all babies born at this time died before their fifth birthday. In London the river Thames was a sludge of disease and raw sewage filled the streets. The Great Stink forced politicians to act, paving the way for a complete sewage system for the whole of the city.

I hope the scent of the posies is a constant reminder of those in our world who lack access to safe sanitation

This great parallel not only made the audience relate with the problem but exposed the situation that people living in developing countries must face on a daily basis. Pat explains how she made her talk come to life:

"St Peter's was re-opened at the end of June 1858 after extensive building work. As we were looking back to that hot summer 150 years ago, it was very easy to make a link to what was happening nationally during that time.

"So on Sunday 6 July I lead a 'Great Stink' evensong. I gave everyone who attended a little posy of herbs and lavender – this is what the MPs carried with them during the Great Stink to mask the smell of raw sewage. Everyone took their posies home and I hope their scent is a constant reminder of those in our world who lack access to safe sanitation."

Find out more about the Great Stink 

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