Annual Church Service, Reception and Freedom of the Guild Ceremony Tuesday 9th October 2018

Tuesday 9^th October was a busy day in the life of the Guild with a packed evening of events. Firstly, our third annual Church Service was held at St Lawrence Jewry, next Guildhall, attended by over 100 Guild Freemen, Members and guests.

The service was conducted by the Master’s Chaplain, the Revd Stephen Stavrou, assisted by the Rev’d Canon David Parrott (Guild Vicar of St Lawrence Jewry) and The Rev’d Canon Charles Pickstone, the Master’s Consort and Honorary Chaplain. Lessons were read by Julia Mingay (Middle Warden) and Victoria Garratt (Freeman). The Service included the Blessing of our new Guild Banner, beautifully made for us by a group of 6 talented ladies from the Worshipful Company of Broderers who meet and embroider in St Pauls Cathedral. The group were represented at the Service by Isobel Latimer, former nurse and Freeman of the Broderers. The Service and sermon were beautifully themed around 70 years of NHS, 100 years since the end of the First World War and 100 years of women’s suffrage. The choir of St Mary Undercroft conducted by Rob Page with organist Catherine Ennis sang and played magnificently.

Many of those attending the service then walked over to Guildhall where another of our lovely Freedom of the Guild Ceremonies was held where 22 Freemen made their declarations in front of fellow Freemen, invited guests, friends and family. Guests of the Guild included Master and Clerk of the Guild of Entrepreneurs and representatives of the Nightingale Fellowship.

An informal buffet supper followed the ceremony and a joyful atmosphere presided over the rest of the evening with lots of chatter and laughter as people made new acquaintances and caught up with old friends.

See the Order of Service and the Sermon by the Master’s Chaplain.

Further photographs of the evening and Freedom Ceremony are available on the Freemen only pages of the website.

Hilary Andrews

Court Assistant