The Worshipful Company of Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco
Blenders celebrate the 400th anniversary of their original Royal
Charter granted by King James I this year and so a very special Service of
Evensong was held in the Temple Church in Temple. The Mistress and I were
kindly invited and so we were thrilled to be able to join a large number of
invited guests and Livery Masters in this fine church.
A place of worship has stood on this site since at least
1162 and the current building is modelled on the circular Church of the Holy
Sepulchre in Jerusalem. It is unusual in that the pews face each other down the
length of the nave and the whole building is bathed in light as only a few of
the many windows are fitted with stained glass. On a fine, sunny summers
evening it was a lovely place to be.
The Company’s history is somewhat chequered; essentially
they lost their Charted some thirty years after grant only to regain it in
1663. Fast forward two hundred years and they had lost it a second time but in
1961 the third iteration of their Charter was granted and since then they have
gone from strength to strength. This history was a central theme to the service
which was expertly led by the Master of the Temple the Rev’d Robin
Griffith-Jones, assisted by the Rev’d Canon David Parrott, Hon Chaplain (from
St Lawrence Jewry) who also gave the sermon.
Guests included both Sheriffs and their Consorts and the
Lord Mayor Locum Tenens, Alderman Sir Andrew Parmley who also read the
second lesson. The music was superb led by a magnificent choir supported by
some lusty organ playing and real trumpets; what a sound! The anthems were
simply sublime and we sat in awe of their musicianship.
The sermon focused on ‘hot potatoes’ (themselves an import
from the colonies like tobacco) and the parallels between the world four
hundred years ago and today – very sobering. But then there was more music
before we exited the church with music ringing in our ears.
A drinks reception had been kindly arranged in the Middle
Temple close by and a lovely evening ensued catching up with the many Masters
and Consorts who attended. Also on display were a number of Company artefacts
including the Master Smoking Hat (see picture) and the Company snuff-box
(mounted on a ram’s head!). Marvellous to behold.
A wonderful evening and our thanks must go to the Master
Andrew Golding and to his Wardens, Past Masters, Court Assistants and Clerk all
of whom were very much in evidence (and in Company bow-ties!) and who made us
feel very welcome. Let us hope they are more careful with their current
Charter!
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