Writes Samuel Hill, Music Administrator
Since 1616, members of the Merchant Taylors’ Company have gathered each year in December to commemorate the life of John Vernon, who was Master of the Company in 1609. He was a generous benefactor, and is buried in the church of St Michael’s Cornhill, the guild church of the Company. We were delighted that, once again, the Chamber Choir was invited to sing at this year’s service, which took place there on Wednesday 10th December. Under the direction of the Assistant Director of Music, Mr Ian Crawford, the Chamber Choir sang three anthems in the middle of the service, beginning with Howard Skempton’s setting of the medieval text Adam lay ybounden. This was followed by a contemplative setting of G. M. Hopkins’s poem A Christmas Prayer by Ian Crawford. The final anthem was the traditional German carol Up! good Christen folk and listen.
The service was led by the Revd. Henry Eatock-Taylor, Rector of St Michael’s, and the sermon was given by the Chaplain to the Company, the Revd. Dr. Alan McCormack. The first lesson, taken from the ninth chapter of the prophecy of Isaiah, was read by Liveryman Dr. Emma Felber; and the second lesson, from the opening of St. John’s gospel, by the Master, Alderman Sir Nicholas Lyons. We were accompanied on the organ by the Church’s Assistant Director of Music, Benjamin Markovic, who played Thomas Trotter’s delightful arrangement of Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride as the voluntary.
After the service, the choir and congregation were invited to the Merchant Taylors’ Hall for lunch.
