Swimming with perseverance....

Jo Lorimer from Warblington with Emsworth parish, Diocese of Portsmouth, is currently undergoing ordination training with Portsmouth Pathways, but her other passion is wild water swimming which she enjoys with others.

As someone who enjoys pool swimming, pool lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic led to her literally dipping her toe in the water of the nearby sea with a friend. 

“I swam to the first buoy and was terrified, then I had my first 30 minute sea swimming lesson and only lasted 15 minutes,” she confessed, but with encouragement and practice, Jo developed a love of open water swimming. 

She now considers her passion for the sport as another expression of her faith and way of sharing the Gospel of life lived ‘in all its fullness’ with fellow swimmers.

She says: “I feel very close to God’s creation when I see the beautiful seaside sunrises, the starfish and everyone is smiling and laughing. It has helped me mentally through lockdown and all its challenges and tragedies. I get down to the beach early and all I want to do is pray and give thanks for creation and all God’s blessings. I love to do my bible study on the beach too, before anyone else gets there, and I pray in the water as I swim.

“And then when you are really cold in the water and warm up afterwards over a cup of tea nd a chat with friends, I give thanks again for that rush of wellbeing.”

People from Jo’s church family have also joined her occasionally; she has swum with the pioneer minister, the deanery secretary and several other parishioners, including a courageous 90-year-old, Gretta Pescod!

One of Jo’s sea-swimming groups is called “Schwimbling Shenanigans, with a side of bonkers,” a name which nods to the courage it takes to swim all year round in just ‘skins’ (no wetsuit, just an ordinary swimming costume), on Hayling Island, Beachlands.

“We are a mixture of Christians and non-Christians”, Jo explains, “but we all share our beliefs with each other, and they often accept, gratefully and graciously, my offer of prayer.

“Before I set off on my long swims, I tell myself and other swimmers ‘You are fearfully and wonderfully made’ and I also love, ‘Do not be anxious about anything’ and ‘Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles to [swim] with perseverance the course marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith’.  I know God chose us and he is with us through all our trials, swimming and life ones!”

Swimming has enabled Jo to become a very fit and strong 58-year-old, training hard enough to do a long swim from Lee on Solent lifeboat station to Ryde on the Isle of Wight, which took just over two hours. It was part of charity swim with Aspire, which supports people with spinal injuries. 

Of course, wild swimming does have its risks and on one occasion, Jo had a scary moment during the Isle of Wight long swim when a tanker was moving in rather too closely and others had to shout to her to swim hard and get out of the way. 

“This shows the importance of being with others when you’re out in open water,” said Jo, and offers further tips for safety below. 

For those not quite sure how wild swimming can connect others with Jesus, Jo believes there are opportunities for this wherever there are genuine relationships and common interests.

I love the squeals when it’s freezing in the water and the laughs of loads of middle-aged people jumping the waves!

She said: “I try to be kind and supportive but as the relationship is relatively new, I am still listening and building and it’s a slow burn. I openly share my faith journey and several people have said they will come to our church next time I preach – they’re people who wouldn’t normally go – and I intend to invite them to the Carol Service.

“But it’s more about living and being a Christian moment by moment alongside people, whatever you’re doing. Wild water swimming takes perseverance, and often a bit of bravery. As well as being wonderful for people’s wellbeing, swimming in the sea is a situation that allows me to reassure people that God is with them, and wants them to enjoy all the blessings of this life he gave us, whatever their age and level of fitness. I love the squeals when it’s freezing in the water and the laughs of loads of middle-aged people jumping the waves! Through swimming challenges, and the journey of life itself, God is our greatest cheerleader and I just can’t help sharing that with people.”

Jo's tips for safer wild swimming

  • Go with other people – Jo is keen to map where Christians are swimming across the country. If you’re a Christian wild swimmer, contact her at: (email?)
  • Have a tow float and a bright hat. 
  • Always read up about the water you are planning to swim in and watch the tides.  
  • Have a weighted safety rope nearby on the beach to help people get out (often the hardest part).
  • Visit the National Water Safety website for more about wild swimming and safety.