King Edward’s School was transported to St Bride’s Church in Fleet Street on Tuesday when more than half the school population attended the annual foundation service. St. Bride’s Church is near the site of the original school, founded in 1553 when King Edward VI gave his royal palace of Bridewell to the City of London.
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The Head Boy and Girl and the School Chaplain are honorary members of St. Bride’s Guild and each year this beautifully decorated Wren church provides a wonderful setting for the service. City dignitaries including the Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Ian Luder, enjoyed the school chapel choir in magnificent voice, particularly singing the ‘Gloria in excelsis’ by Noel Rawsthorne. The Rt Revd Nicholas Baines, Bishop of Croydon, provided a lively sermon, in which he talked about the fickleness and superficiality of the modern love of celebrity. He said that rather than seeking the fleeting glory of fame in grand gestures, it was more important to strive after integrity and value what is right in the small things and achievements in life. After the service the Lord Mayor met members of the choir and signed the visitors’ book at St Bride’s church.
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Before lunch Mr Luder presented Bridewell Fellow medallions to Mr Richard Poulten (on behalf of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers) and to Mr David Toothill (Governor of King Edward’s 1996 – 2008) both of whom are supporting pupils at the school.
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The Head Boy, Edward Willis, thanked the Lord Mayor and spoke eloquently about the rich traditions of King Edward’s School since its foundation. He said that the school acknowledged the debt to the City of London and her corporations , particularly to the bursary scheme, without which many pupils would not have such an outstanding education. “We thank you Lord Mayor for entertaining us so memorably today and we keenly anticipate reciprocating your generous hospitality on Speech Day at Witley in July.”
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Lunch was provided at the Guildhall, following the Grace, spoken by Head Girl, Holly Beckwith. Guests were able to mingle with the pupils and discuss their various afternoon’s programme of educational visits to the Imperial War and Natural History Museums, Tower Bridge Exhibition and the London Eye and a river trip along the Thames to Greenwich and the Maritime Museum.
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Gwyn Phillips said ‘Bridewell Day is always very special, when the historic links between the Corporation of the City of London and King Edward’s School, Witley are firmly renewed. As part of the celebration, we also organise some interesting trips for the pupils and hope to make it a day they will always remember.’
