What better time to be guests of the Diocesan Cathedral for the Chapter’s Annual General Meeting than its Patronal Festival weekend?
The snow had melted and the sun shone as over 40 Companions and Associates gathered in the Wren Suite at St Paul’s, firstly to conduct the first AGM of the relaunched Company of Servers’ London Chapter. Reports were given on how far the Chapter has progressed in the last six months since it regrouped and how with the support of individuals and parishes and a growing membership that now numbers around 60, the Chapter can look forward to the future with optimism. Committee elections took place and details of the new look Committee can be found at www.companyofservers.org.
A programme of events for 2013 was announced (also on the website) and input of ideas on future subjects and content from Companions was sought.
Following the AGM, the Chapter was treated to an informative address from Revd Canon Michael Hampel, the Cathedral’s Precentor, who refreshingly reminded the Company that even at St Paul’s liturgy does not always go according to plan and stressed the importance of the essential anticipation that needs to exist between servers and clergy.
There then followed a moving short service in the Middlesex Chapel in front of Holman Hunt’s famous painting ‘The Light of the World’ when seven new Companions were admitted to the Chapter by our Chaplain, Fr Matthew Catterick. After this we attended lunchtime Mass under the Dome when the Company was mentioned in the intentions and the prayers and our newly elected Chairman had the privilege of reading the lesson.
After a short lunch break the day was topped off with a tour of the Cathedral given by Jo Brewster, one of the Cathedral’s volunteer guides. Her knowledge was encyclopaedic from the size of Nelson’s uniform to the origin of the phrase ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’. We finished in front of ‘The Light of the World’ – a fitting end to a very enjoyable day.
