The Parish Church of St John-at-Hampstead

358th FESTIVAL OF THE SONS OF THE CLERGY
TUESDAY 15 MAY 2012
The 358th Festival of the Sons of the Clergy will be held in St Paul’s Cathedral at 5.30 pm on Tuesday 15 May 2012.  The occasion dates back to the time of Cromwell, when many clergy who had remained loyal to the Crown were being dispossessed of their livings and left penniless.  A group of clergymen’s sons, realising that help was needed, organised a Service in the old St. Paul’s Cathedral to raise funds – and so was founded the charity today known as the Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy.  Many think that the name of the charity is a reference to those whom it helps but it is, in fact, a reference to its founding fathers (if not a contradiction in terms).

The first Festival Service was held in 1655 and there has been a Festival Service every year since then, it now being one of the major Services in St. Paul’s Cathedral each year with the Cathedral packed.  As well as wonderful music and a sermon from a preacher of note (this year the choirs of Bristol Cathedral and Southwell Minster will be joining the choir of St Paul’s and the preacher will be the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Very Reverend David Chillingworth), it is full of pageantry.  The Service symbolises the coming together of Church and City, with the Masters of the Livery Companies processing at the beginning and end of the Service, the City Aldermen processing with Bishops and then the Lord Mayor processing in State with the Archbishop of Canterbury.

But behind the splendour of the occasion its purpose remains the same as that of the first Service in 1655 – the work of the charity.  The Sons of the Clergy is one of the largest of the Church of England clergy charities, providing financial help to Anglican clergy, both working and retired, and their families in times of need.  Each year it gives away substantial amounts in grants and, in doing so, helps to maintain the framework of parish ministry.  Today the Festival Service is one of thanksgiving and rededication but it is also a reminder of the work of the Sons of the Clergy and of the charity’s own need for on-going financial support to enable it to continue performing the important supportive role it has been performing for over 350 years. 

If you are free on 15 May I would strongly urge you to come to the Service – those who have been to it before (and a number of members of the Parish come every year) will know what a wonderful occasion it is.  Entry is by ticket and if you would like one or more tickets please let me know at: Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy, 1 Dean Trench Street, London SW1P 3HB, telephone 020 7799 3696,
email [email protected]