Following hard on the heels of the Lord Mayors Dinner at
Mansion House the night before (see Blog No 104), the United Guilds Service at
St Pauls Cathedral is another landmark event in the Livery year. It was instigated
in 1943 and has been held for an unbroken 77 years since then. It is one of the
few occasions were all the Livery can come together and all fully robed. And it
was made all the more special by some wonderful early spring weather!
I was delighted to be accompanied at the Service by the
Mistress, the Thames and Fleet Wardens, by the Deputy Master and the Clerk plus
Consorts and by several other members of the Company and assorted guests.
Numbering 19 in total we more than filled the Company pew (number 52) and so
the remaining attendees were scattered about the Cathedral under the Dome. And
they probably had the better view!
The almost endless processional included the Masters of the
Great Twelve Livery Companies plus a dozen other Companies selected on a
rotational basis. The Water Conservators will doubtless have their turn in few
years’ time! Others in the procession included the choir, clergy and members of
the City of London Corporation plus of course the Aldermen and the Lord Mayor
himself. Quite a spectacle!
The service was led by the Dean of St Pauls, the Very Reverend
Dr David Ison and the Lessons were read by the Canon in Residence, the Reverend
Tricia Hills and by the Lord Mayor. Some wonderful psalms and anthems were sung
by the Cathedral choir and fitted the mood perfectly. In her sermon the Bishop
of London, the Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE referred
to the Second Lesson (Matthew 25; the shedding of the Sheep from the Goats) and
challenged us all to show more compassion, not only to our family and friends but
also to our enemies. Very thought provoking.
After the Blessing and the National Anthem sung to a very
rousing organ, the recessional took us all out onto the steps of St Pauls accompanied
by the Cathedral bells in full peel. Simply wonderful.
The Water Conservators party then had lunch in the Private Members
Dining Room at the Guildhall where a splendid meal was served. It was a very
relaxed occasion and members and guests alike had a very pleasant time. They
even seemed to like the impromptu speech from the Master!
Thank you to the staff at St Pauls for the service and to
the team form the Cook and the Butler for the lunch. A great way to round off the week.
Picture shows (from left to right) Consorts Judy West,
Georgina Hall, the Mistress, Fiona Tozzi, Christine Jarvis and Sandra
Williamson.
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