Some  20  Candlewick  Ward  Club  members  and  guests  attended  the  Wren  300  Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate the life of Sir Christopher Wren FRS held in  the  splendour  of  one  -  if  not  the  greatest  -  of  his  masterpieces:  St.  Paul’s  Cathedral in the City of London. Wren was an extraordinary and multi-talented genius.  In the hope that this will  be  of  interest  to  our  Club’s  members,  I  have  assembled  an  historical  and  biographical note as an Addendum to this article.       

The Wren  300  ceremony  was  attended  by  a  congregation  of  some  1500  which  included  Their  Royal  Highnesses  the  Duke  &  Duchess  of  Gloucester,  The  Lord  Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London, the Bishop of London, the Dean of St  Paul’s, members of a number of Livery Companies and guests as well as members  of the public. The  event  was  jointly  organised  by  the  Surveyors’  and  Architects’  Livery  Companies  in  collaboration  with  many  other  sponsors  including  M  &  G  Real  Estate, the Constructors’, Paviors’ and Wax Chandlers’ Liveries and the real estate  data service providers LandClan.    Our members and their guests were fortunate to have been afforded seats under  the Dome of St Pauls to witness the Service unfolding.   

The  ceremony  included  a  feast  of  prayers,  hymns  and  uplifting  music  together  with  addresses  and  tributes  delivered  by  Loyd  Grossman,  Chair  of  Gresham  College; James Bryer, Master of the Surveyors’ Livery; Christopher Dyson, Master  of the Architects’ Livery; Ann Grey, President of the RICS; and The Revd. Dr Prof.  Maxwell  Hutchison,  a  Past  President  of  the  RIBA.    Prayer  Readers  included  students of St Saviours’ and St Olave’s School.  

After the Service, our members and guests attended a most convivial champagne  reception  and  lunch  at  Plaisterers’  Hall  with  toasts  and  speeches  given  by  the  Master Pavior, John May and the Master Plaisterer, Stephen Gilbert. This event was a very memorable and impressive occasion –  thank you  to all of  the  organisers  and  sponsors  and  of  course  to  our  own  Chairman  and  Hon.  Secretary for initiating and arranging our Club’s participation.