COMPANY SERVICE: 6 JULY

Each year, at the beginning of July, the Company holds a service at St Michael's Cornhill to celebrate both the continuation of the Company across the centuries and the generosity of our many benefactors.

The service is conducted by the Company's Chaplain who followers of this blog will know this year is the Rt Rev Nigel Stock, Lord Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.  The Rev Peter Mullen, Rector of St Michael's also laid on the service in St Michael's special way with an excellent choir. 

Bishop Nigel gave an excellent sermon on the subject of charity.  He noted the great irony that some of the greatest charitable donations are made by those who may be considered the greatest sinners.  This is a characteristic known to the Drapers' Company.  Although many of our benefactors doubtless lived blameless and worthy lives a number did not. 

My favourite example is that of Francis Bancroft, who in his life had the reputation of being a hard nosed lawyer quite unembarrassed in demanding bribes.  He was held in such low esteem that during his funeral procession in the early 1730s the City mob tried to tip him out of his coffin as it was borne through the streets of London.  Nevertheless he died a bachelor and gave most of his worldly wealth to the Company and today two great institutions can trace their roots to his generosity: Bancroft's School and Queen Mary, University of London which occupies the original site of his benefaction and faces the Bancroft Arms pub across the Mile End Road.

The church was full with members of the Drapers' family.  Court members, the Livery and Freedom as well as residents from the almshouses, representatives from the Company's Schools and Universities.  There was a chance to meet everyone at the buffet lunch at the Hall that followed.

ST MICHAEL'S CORNHILL SERVICE TO COMMEMORATE THE 400th ANNIVERSARY OF THE AUTHORISED VERSION: 5 MAY

On Thursday there was a choral evensong service at St Michael's, Cornhill to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the publication of the Authorised Version of the Bible.  Although this was not a Company sponsored service we had agreed to cover the cost of a reception at the Hall afterwards.

Rev Peter Mullen and the Director of Music Jonathan Rennert had put together a beautiful choral evensong service.  In addition to the choir that does such an excellent job there was also a concert of viols.

Lord Judge, the Lord Chief Justice, who is also a Liveryman of the Company, gave the address where amongst other issues he explored the huge success that Bishop Lancelot Andrewes and others who worked on the Authorised Version achieved in their synthesis of widely varying doctrinal positions into a single text.  Furthermore it was a single text that not only resolved key doctrinal issues but also produced an outstanding work of literature. 

I do not go to evensong very often these days and it was a particular treat not only to listen to a fully sung service accompanied by viols and the recently restored church organ but also to hear Lord Judge's stimulating address.

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR PAST MASTER TREVOR ELDRID 20 APRIL

Past Master Trevor Eldrid (1916-2011) in 1977, the year he was Master

By tradition and if the family wish the Company hold a memorial service for past masters at St Michael's, Cornhill.  On the morning of 20 April a service was conducted by Past Master Rev Peter Taylor in memory of Trevor Eldrid (see post in January).

There was a good turn out and Rev Peter Taylor conducted the service with considerable affection and full recognition of Trevor's great contribution to the Company.  Past Master Sir Nicholas Jackson played the newly restored organ built by Renatus Harris in 1684 and substantially modified since 1790.  He was one of the patrons of the Appeal Committee and with others ensured this important organ has been restored to its former glory.

A lunch was subsequently held for those who attended, including Trevor's wife Pam, at the Hall afterwards.

ST MICHAEL'S CORNHILL NEW YEAR'S SERVICE 14 JANUARY

Although not a Drapers' Company event the New Year Service at St Michael's Cornhill is a secure part of the Company year and our first event of the New Year.

The Master and Wardens along with the Alderman of Cornhill Ward, Sir David Howard Bt, play a part in the service.

The church was packed.  Rev Peter Mullen put on a really good service including great hymns and beautiful singing by the choir.  This was complemented by a former Army colleague of mine, Major General Tim Cross, who in addition to a distinguished military and academic career is also a Church of England lay reader.

He gave an arresting address.  This started from the Army's identification that there was a moral component of military effectiveness that was equal to having the right kit and the right plans.  If the moral component was not right the best kit and best plans would not produce success.  He then went on to challenge whether we had a sufficient moral component in our broader national life.  His address will shortly be on www.st-michaels.org.uk/

It was then on to the Hall for a buffet lunch.  It was good to see members of the Company, masters and clerks of many other livery companies and members of the congregation all mingling together.

PS if you want to see another report why not visit Liveryman Herry Lawford's excellent Herry's Journal - it is one of the links of this blog.

REV PETER MULLEN 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION CELEBRATION

The Company has been Patrons of St Michael, Cornhill for just over half a millenium.  The present incumbent, since 1998, is Rev Peter Mullen.  For further details see http://www.st-michaels.org.uk/

We recently discovered that his fortieth anniversary of ordination occurred this autumn.  It was decided to celebrate this auspicious event by holding a celebratory church service followed by a reception at Drapers' Hall.  The other livery companies associated with St Michael's, Cornhill - Merchant Taylors, Cutlers, Woolmen, Air Pilots and Navigators, Chartered Secretaries, Fuellers, and Water Conservators - also asked to be involved in, and generously contributed to, the evening's celebrations.

The first part of the evening was a splendid mass, which featured some of Peter's particular Mozartian favourites, beautifully sung.  At the conclusion of the service we then moved to Drapers' Hall.  There was a wide attendance of the livery companies involved and the congregation of St Michael's.

In a short speech during the reception with I took the liberty of  comparing Peter to Blessed John Henry Newman, of whom he is a great admirer.  I know he would be far too modest to want to do this in any way but I felt it was only right to point out that both are men determined faith.  It is also a certainty that determined faith will often result in uncomfortable situations and it is certainly a difficult personal path to follow.  But, and looking round those who had come to the service and the reception, it was clear to be such a protagonist in life’s spiritual struggle wins great admiration, respect and friendship.

An evening that was both spritual and enjoyable and brought the wider City community together.