Thanks to apples and blackberries
The traditional annual Plow Monday service is being given a
modern twist at St Lawrence Jewry church next to Guildhall on
Monday 11 January. Instead of blessing the plough, the traditional
apparatus of labour recognised on Plow Monday, the Vicar will bless
the latter day equivalent: IT equipment, or to put it another way -
Apples and BlackBerries.
Plow Monday is the first Monday after Epiphany and traditionally
marks the last day of the Christmas holiday before return to work.
It derives its name from the ploughs of farm workers being blessed
for the forthcoming year’s work. A collection of Apples,
BlackBerries and iPods will be placed on to the altar during the
service; including the BlackBerry of the Lord Mayor of the City of
London, Alderman Nick Anstee, who is attending the service.
Canon David Parrott, Guild Vicar, St Lawrence Jewry next Guildhall
said:
“At the heart of this service is the traditional apparatus of
labour used by the congregation. Our modern City workers are more
familiar with PDAs and laptops than a plough so it seemed
appropriate to update the focus.”
There has been a church on the site of St Lawrence Jewry next
Guildhall in Guildhall Yard since the twelfth century. The
first, thought to have been built in 1136 was destroyed in the
Great Fire of London and was re-built by Sir Christopher Wren in
1687. It was one of Wren’s most expensive City
Churches. Following extensive damage during the Second World
War it was restored and is now the official Church of the City of
London Corporation. It is a Grade 1 listed
building.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. PRESS ENQUIRIES:
Kristina Blissett, Press Office, City of London Corporation
Tel: 020 7332 3451 / Mobile: 07795 290040
Email:
kristina.blissett@cityoflondon.gov.uk
2. ABOUT THE CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION:
The City of London Corporation is a uniquely diverse organisation.
It supports and promotes the City as the world leader in
international finance and business services and provides local
services and policing for those working in, living in and visiting
the Square Mile. It also provides valued services to London and the
nation. These include the Barbican Centre and the Guildhall School
of Music & Drama; the Guildhall Library and Art Gallery and
London Metropolitan Archive; a range of education provision
(including three City Academies); five Thames bridges (including
Tower Bridge and the Millennium Bridge); the Central Criminal Court
at Old Bailey; over 10,000 acres of open spaces (including
Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest), and three wholesale food
markets. It is also London’s Port Health Authority and runs the
Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow. It works in partnership with
neighbouring boroughs on the regeneration of surrounding areas and
the City Bridge Trust, which it oversees, donates more than £15m to
charity annually.
3. ABOUT ST LAWRENCE JEWRY NEXT GUILDHALL:
For further information visit the
St Lawrence
Jewry website.