Almost every year since the first Festival Service of the Sons of the Clergy at St Paul's Cathedral on 8 November 1655, it has been the tradition for attendees at the Service, including the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Aldermen and Bishops, to proceed afterwards to the Merchant Taylors' Hall in Threadneedle Street for a dinner in aid of the charity.
At the bicentenary event, on 10 May 1854, a sum of £11,384 was raised at the Festival Service and Dinner, which sum would be worth over £1.2 million today. While the Dinner is no longer a primary source of funds for the charity, it is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the historic links between charity, City and Church.
Clergy Support Trust continues to be grateful to the Merchant Taylors' Company for kindly hosting and supporting the Festival Dinner today.