Tuesday 8th Oct 2024

Christ’s Hospital Hosts Royal Guests for Special Service at St Paul’s Cathedral

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On Friday 4 October, Christ’s Hospital held a special service at St Paul’s Cathedral to celebrate St Matthew’s Day and the school’s historic connection with the City of London. The splendid event was attended by the entire school and distinguished guests, including Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (the former being the President of Christ’s Hospital), the Lord Mayor Locum Tenens, the Bishop of London and the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Following the atmospheric service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, which included stunning performances by the CH Gospel and Chapel Choirs, the festivities continued as the Christ’s Hospital Band accompanied the whole school – some 850 students – in a triumphant march to Guildhall. The spirited parade through the streets brought traffic to a standstill and city workers flocking to watch and cheer on.

Once at Guildhall, the students entered the Great Hall, where the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, as well as the Lord Mayor Locum Tenens of the City of London, awarded them each ‘largesse’ – a newly minted coin – as a physical embodiment of the school’s links to the City of London. 

Head Teacher of Christ’s Hospital, Simon Reid, said: ‘It was an extraordinary day and we are extremely honoured to have celebrated what was one of the biggest events in the school’s history at St Paul’s Cathedral; the presence of Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, added an extra layer of significance to an already memorable and meaningful day for Christ’s Hospital.’

Christ’s Hospital traditionally celebrates St Matthew’s Day on the Friday nearest to the 21 September, when the choir, band and senior students travel to London for a service in a City church near the school’s original site. This year was special in that the service was held at St Paul’s – for only the eighth time in the school’s long history – in order to mark the end of the school’s year-long celebration of the 350th anniversary of the Royal Mathematical School. The last time St Paul’s hosted the St Matthew’s Day service was in 2012, in honour of the school’s 460th anniversary.  

Christ’s Hospital celebrates an association with the City of London that began when it was founded in 1552. The St Matthew’s Day celebration goes back to the very beginnings of the school’s existence when the names of the Governors of the Royal Hospitals, of which Christ’s Hospital is one, were first given to the Lord Mayor for ceremonial approval.  That ceremony is still part of the service today and is vital to maintaining the links with the City that benefit Christ’s Hospital students in myriad ways.