Our Annual Thanksgiving Service

Bathed in autumn sunshine, we gathered today at St James Garlickhythe church for our Annual Thanksgiving Service, celebrating 555 years of the Company’s history.

Our Prime Warden and Renter Warden were resplendent in their new gowns, designed to mark this 555th year.

The Wardens were accompanied by the Clerk and their consorts and processed from Dyers’ Hall to the church, led by our Beadle and Bargemaster, Jerry McCarthy.

The service was led by the Revd Canon Anthony Howe, Rector of St James Garlickhythe. His thoughtful sermon reflected on the Company’s remarkable 555-year history, the significant challenges of fire, plague and war, and the resilience, ingenuity and commitment that have sustained us through the centuries. As stewards of the Company today, we have a responsibility to preserve its legacy for the next generation and the next 555 years.

We were honoured to welcome the exceptionally talented Norwich School choir, who led us in the hymns and sang two beautiful anthems, adding a wonderful musical dimension to the service.

Following the service, we returned to Dyers’ Hall for lunch, where the General Court voted on the change of Wardens to take place at the next Court meeting in November.

A memorable day of thanksgiving, music and fellowship, celebrating our shared heritage and looking with confidence to the future.