Annual service and election court dinner - 8 July 2008

Cornwall in the City of London. Four fully-waved flags, courtesy of the Master for 2008, Jonathan Ball.


Canon Michael Bordeaux tells of religious revival in Russia from the pulpit of St. Lawrence Jewry.


In Carpenter's Hall, David Higgins tells of the Olympic Delivery Authority, while we contemplate the menu!

Cornwallisation - the continuing saga

There is currently a theological debate raging (or perhaps not quite raging, more, underway) about the possible inclusion in the Company's forthcoming Carol Service of a couple of Cornish Carols - the Vicar of St Mary-le-Bow is not sure about the theological soundness of non-conformist carols. watch this space.

It has been a busy week for the Master and, to a lesser extent, his hard pressed Clerk. Hot on the heels of the Master's Reception the following day saw them both at Westminster Abbey along with Livery brethren from 70 or so other Companies for the annual Festival of St Cecilia.

This service, run by the Musicians' Benevolent Fund is held alternately at the Abbey, Westminster Cathedral, St Paul's and Southwark Cathedral. The music, provided by the combined choirs of the first three of these establishments, is spectacularly good. There is a tradition that an anthem is specially commissioned for this service each year. This year's contribution was a setting to music by Gabriel Jackson (1972-) of a 5th century Ambrosian Hymn. It was not universally enjoyed by those who would not list modern choral music among their passtimes on their Livery Master CV's.

A true joy of the occasion was the seating allocated to the Masters and Clerks who processed in full fig - retracing, as it were, the steps taken by the Monarch and her consort a few days earlier. We were sat facing the Abbey's wonderful south round window (illustrated above) through which the sun streamed. Even made the sermon pass quickly.

The Master accompanied by his lady, then joined several others at a lunch in the Banqueting House, Whitehall.

The following evening sees the Master as the principal guest at the Paviors' Company Dinner at Haberdashers' Hall

RNLI Sennen Cove

After several servings of Cornish Pasties, it has been proposed that the Company should try to focus our RNLI charity efforts on this particular spectacular lifeboat station; they are on the point of getting a new £1m 'Tamar' class lifeboat. Follow the link (left) to Sennan Cove.