Concordia

Concordia Winter 2021

Reflections on the Triennial Service

The two large groups of boys then walked to St Paul’s on a route mapped out by the JCR. We used to have a police escort, which was often more of a hindrance as we held up the traffic as we marched down the road. I recall one taxi driver thinking we were a protest march and he asked me what we were protesting about. Sadly I wasn’t quick enough to give him a silly answer. With military precision, the boys went to their allocated seats ready for the ceremony. Monitors and JCR placed the Order of Service and ushered our guests to their seats. Our Triennial Services included hymns such as Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer (Cwm Rhondda) and, as we began to involve more boys, we included those of other faiths and languages to read in the service. We chose Matthew Chapter 5 v 1-16, the Beatitudes. Indeed, these verses speak to the moral values shared by Merchant Taylors’ boys. Of course, there is always the possibility that something could go wrong. In 2017, just before the procession I noticed that some guests were sitting in the seats reserved for the Cathedral clergy who were processing — having fifteen clergy with no seat would have been a disaster. In 2011 the Dean of St Paul’s closed the Cathedral immediately after our service as 150 protesters had camped outside the doors and there was some doubt that our service would go ahead. The 1st XV were put at the front of the boys, just in case…We were due to have the Triennial in 2012 but the Cathedral was unavailable due to a service to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar, so the service happened two years after the 2009 service. In 2009 we sent out tickets to all the parents and then realised that if they all turned up, they wouldn’t fit in the Cathedral. This was an interesting experience but fortunately there was

Caron Evans-Evans (Senior Master) organised the previous five Triennial Services from 2006- 2017. He reflects on a unique event in the school calendar. The Triennial Service represents everything that is truly wonderful about the Merchant Taylors’ community. It is a splendid occasion with the pomp and ceremony befitting one of the ‘Great Nine’ schools mentioned in the Clarendon Commission. The procession of the Master and the Court of the Merchant Taylors’ Company, the Governors and senior staff of the Merchant Taylors’ School, the service and the readings by adults and – more importantly – boys, the choir of around 150 boys, parents and staff, the congregation of parents, OMTs and our special guests all came together to make the services very special. However, these wonderful occasions were even more special because of the hard work and cooperation of the boys and all of those involved in making the day come together. Older boys helped younger boys on the route; boys worked together on the service; teaching and support staff worked brilliantly together, always helping and encouraging: all were determined to show off our school and make the occasions memorable. Lunch was served at a rapid pace from 10.45am. Burger and chips in the morning – fantastic! The choir and JCR headed off to London early with some cheese rolls in their packed lunches. I strongly suspected that these were eaten by the pigeons whilst the boys raided the local restaurants in their break. Meanwhile, the rest of the boys lined up in the Quad and then walked to the tube station by form. In the past we hired two tube trains solely for our use. Both moved directly to the Barbican without stopping. This was a highlight for the boys: their own tube train!

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