Marking the Coronation of King Charles III

and commemorating 90 years at Sandy Lodge

With the world’s eyes fixed on London, which on the 6th May saw the crowning of our King and Queen in Westminster Abbey, on the 4th May, we gathered to give thanks for the ninety years that the Merchant Taylors’ School has spent outside the City of London. A service of thanksgiving took place in the Chapel to mark nine decades since the school's opening at Sandy Lodge, on 4th May 1933.

The service was preceded by a short tree-planting ceremony. The school, in concert with the Old Merchant Taylors' Society, planted an English Oak in commemoration of the King’s coronation. With views over the lakes, it is hoped that this are will become an area of quiet contemplation in generations to come. 

The congregation of about 30 comprised mainly past and present members of the Senior Common Room, including Tim Stubbs, sometime Senior Master, and Jon Gabbitas, sometime Head Master. Among the OMTs in attendance was Tom Phipps (Ma 62-68), who has been a boy under Hugh Elder’s headship, and whose father has been a boy at the school when it was at Charterhouse. The service yesterday was led by the Chaplain, the Rev’d James Fields, who spoke on Isaiah 47.

The choir, composed mainly of staff, together with one OMT and one boy in the Upper Sixth, was directed by the Assistant Director of Music, Joan Stubbs. The organ was played by Richard Hobson, sometime Director of Music. The service began with Philip Tomblings’s setting of George Herbert’s words Come, my way, my truth, my life. Tomblings was Director of Music from 1946 to 1966, and as such was in post during the previous coronation, though this work dates from 1927. Following a prayer by Lancelot Andrewes, the hymn Ye watchers and ye holy ones was sung, being the hymn sung at the opening of Sandy Lodge.

The Head Master brought the first lesson from the prophecy of Ezekiel 47, telling of his vision in which he sees the River of Life. The second hymn was sung to Herbert Howells’s rousing tune, Michael, with words All my hope on God is founded translated by the erstwhile Poet Laureate, Robert Bridges. In place of the Head Monitor, the Chaplain read the second lesson, the much-loved Beatitudes in Matthew, from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. This was read by the then Head Monitor at the service in Great Hall on 4th May 1933.

The verse anthem, Gibbons’s This is the Record of John, was sung, a reference to the patron saint of the Company, School, and Chapel, St John Baptist. The Chaplain’s address, entitled The Meanderings of Faith, talked about the way in which our faith in God may not take us in the direction we expect. The Chaplaincy Centre, “a large room set aside for use as a Chapel until a permanent Chapel has been erected” was at the heart of his message. This permanent chapel, described as “the crown of the whole design” has yet to be executed, and its intended position is now occupied by the Music Department, the site having been vacant for over forty years. As such, the role of the Chapel has been significantly different than originally intended: this probably being the first chapel service in about a decade is a notable example. Nevertheless the chaplain urged us think of the river in Ezekiel, to delight in its life-giving but to ultimately look to its source and creator, the giver of peace and love.

The words of the hymn following the address was not known to many, but being set to Walter Greatorex’s tune (written public school use) was sung with enthusiasm. The chaplain led the prayers, which closed with the Lord’s Prayer. The closing hymn was at one time often sung in the Chapel, Sung Alleluia forth in loyal praise, with music by Percy Buck OMT (1871 – 1947). The chaplain closed the service in the reading of a prayer read at the dedication of the Chapel in 1933.

Following the service, the choir and congregation retired to the Senior Common Room to enjoy tea and cake. A small exhibition prepared by the Registrar was of great interest to those present, and included the photo album dating from the early 1930s showing the construction of the school buildings. 

The following day, the whole school and all staff gathered in the Inner Quad for a series of photographs taken from the clocktower to mark the Coronation. Lunch was a wonderful celebration of all things British topped off with a Mr Whippy ice cream!