Silverware of St Vedast and its antecedent churches
On Monday 19th May, as part of the planning for the Associated Companies Carol Service to be held on 2nd December, I was invited to attend Choral Evensong with the Hallowing of the Thesauros of Our Lady and St Dunstan at St Vedast-alias-Foster. This was a splendid service with superb singing from the Choir, which was also attended by Broderer, Canon John Beckwith, an Associate Priest at the church. The purpose of the Service was to take back into use some 40 pieces of silverware ranging from large jugs to small spoons that originally belonged to St Vedast and its antecedent churches. This silver had been stored by St Paul’s and the City of London Museum. Its return to and display in St Vedast was made possible by a generous donation from the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths who also advised on the necessary security measure. Some of the most poignant items were a fire blackened cup and paten pulled from the rubble of the church when it was bombed the same night as our Hall was destroyed in 1941. I hope many liverymen and their families will be able to see this display after the Associated Companies Carol Service. After the Hallowing, I attended a reception kindly given by the Goldsmiths at which I was introduced to several individuals who had successfully organised carol services at St Vedast and assured me of a memorable evening.