The organization now known as the Sons
& Friends of the Clergy is in fact an amalgamation of six clergy support
charities. The earliest of these, the Corporation of Clergymen’s Sons, has its
origins in 1655. This combined charity continues the long tradition of helping
clergy households through difficult times (both financial and poor health) and
in 2016 they gave some 908 gifts totaling over £2.4m.
Each year the charity organizes a special
service in St Paul’s Cathedral both to celebrate its work and also to raise
funds. This year the service (the 363rd of its kind) was well
supported by nearly 100 Masters of Livery Companies and the Cathedral was
packed with other worshippers, many representing the many and varied facets of
City of London life. The combined choirs of Chichester and Chester Cathedrals
were amazing and the sermon was given by the Bishop of York, Dr John Sentamu,
who encouraged us all to “dig deep” for this important charity.
This is a very colourful and important
annual event in the life of the City, with all Master’s processing in and out
of the Cathedral in their full regalia of gowns, chains and badges. I was
delighted to represent the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators at this
occasion.
Photographs show the invitation & order
of service as well as the Master Hackney Carriage Drivers (Alan Roughan) and I
just before we processed into the Cathedral.
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