Support for Barts

Last Wednesday was the annual Livery Masters and Clerks trip into Barts for a charity reception. The Reception was preceded by a choral Evensong in the Priory Church of Saint Bartholomew the Great. The picture above hardly does justice to one of the finest churches in the country. Founded in 1123 as an Augustine Priory it has been in use continuously as a place of worship for over 850 years. The architecture is quite stunning and unsurprisingly the church has been featured in many films. It's a small church left untouched by the Great Fire of London and two world wars. It's a gem and if you have never been there, go.

Interestingly the Rector and choir are placed at the opposite end of the church to the Altar and the preacher preaches from under the organ loft. Quite back to front but due to the layout of this unusual church. The visiting preacher, an Irishman who had undoubtedly kissed the blarney stone amused, informed and asked for support. At the Reception afterwards in the Great Hall of Barts, another gem, sixty Livery Companies were represented and listened to speakers talk about the work of the hospital. It was then possible to have a tour of the hospital and see some of the state of the art equipment now in use. An impressive evening on all fronts.