21 May 2010
HM The Queen, Visitor of the College of St Peter in Westminster, and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh attended a Service on Friday 21 May 2010 to Celebrate the 450th Anniversary of the Collegiate Foundation of St Peter in Westminster Abbey.
The Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I on 21 May 1560 re-founded the former Benedictine monastery at Westminster as the Collegiate Church of St Peter under the governance of a Dean and Chapter and as a Royal Peculiar, that is not subject to bishop or archbishop but directly answerable to The Sovereign.
Westminster School became independent of the Dean and Chapter’s governance in 1868 but the close relationship remains.
The service was attended by the pupils, staff and governors of Westminster School and Westminster Under School, as well as the staff and volunteers of Westminster Abbey and many other members of the Abbey community.
The service was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, who said in his Bidding: ‘In the gracious presence of The Visitor, whom we are all delighted once more to greet with The Duke of Edinburgh, the twinned communities of Abbey and School gather to give thanks to almighty God for our inheritance and to pray for his direction and blessing now and in the future.’
At the conclusion of his Bidding the Dean also offered a prayer for the re-dedication of the Abbey’s restored medieval Cosmati Pavement on the floor of the Sacrarium.
Monika Rubens, Deputy Head Marshal of the Abbey read Deuteronomy 30: 15-end. The Reverend Robert Wright, Canon of Westminster, Rector of St Margaret’s and Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons, read 2 Corinthians 4: 1-12.
The Address was given by the Dean.
Prayers were led by the Reverend Graeme Napier and the Reverend Michael Macey, Minor Canons of Westminster and were said by: Philipp Thumfart, pupil of Westminster Under School; Beryl Kearns, a member of the Abbey Community; Emma Ireland, pupil at Westminster School; Charles Cooper, pupil at Westminster Choir School; Dr Tony Trowles, a member of College; and Jan Pancheri, Head Gardener of the Abbey.
The Royal Charter of 1560 was processed through the Abbey during the service. It was carried by the Receiver General, Sir Stephen Lamport KCVO and the Head Master of Westminster School Dr Stephen Spurr. They were accompanied by The Queen’s Scholars of Westminster School singing a plainchant psalm.
The service was sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey conducted by James O’Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers. The organ was played during the service by Robert Quinney, Sub Organist and before the service by James McVinnie, Assistant Organist. The Westminster School Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Tim Johnson, also played before the service.
After the service The Queen examined conservation work in St George’s Chapel on the Coronation Chair.
Her Majesty visited the new Abbey Education Centre at 1 Dean’s Yard and unveiled a plaque.
The Queen visited Westminster School and unveiled a statue of Queen Elizabeth I by the sculptor Matthew Spender (OW).
In the Abbey’s College Garden, The Queen inspected a new herb garden created to commemorate the 450th anniversary.
Her Majesty was also invited to inspect conservation work by English Heritage at the Chapter House.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were present at lunch in College Hall with members of College and Abbey guests.
See also:
Message from The Visitor HM The Queen
The Dean's Sermon (also available as a podcast)
The Order of Service (PDF, 105KB)
The lunch menu (PDF, 80KB)
Click on the images to enlarge
