City of London Livery Companies, including the Masons Company, and Lincoln Cathedral are joining together on 23 and 24 June to celebrate the traditional crafts and skills essential to the preservation of the Cathedral – and all ancient buildings.
There will be displays and demonstrations both inside the Cathedral and on the East Green. Visitors will be able to come along and have a go at skills such as stone and wood carving.
On the Saturday afternoon at 3-o-clock, there will be an auction by the City of London Livery Companies of work produced during the event.
The Cathedral and stands will be open to the public on both days from 10am to 4pm.
The programme includes Parish Clerks performing Mystery Plays at 11am, 1pm and 3pm on Friday 23rd June. And on the Saturday (24 June), there will be organ recitals at 10.15 and 2pm (one by the Lord Mayor of London), Mystery Plays at 11am and 1pm, Litany at midday, Holly Communion at 12.30.
Livery companies taking part are:
- Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
- Worshipful Company of Saddlers
- Worshipful Company of Painters & Stainers
- Worshipful Company of Masons
- Worshipful Company of Plumbers
- Worshipful Company of Tylers & Bricklayers
- Worshipful Company of Joiners & Ceilers
- Worshipful Company of Weavers
- Worshipful Company of Scriveners
- Worshipful Company of Plaisterers
- Worshipful Company of Broderers
- Worshipful Company of Upholders
- Worshipful Company of Turners
- Worshipful Company of Basketmakers
- Worshipful Company of Glaziers
- Worshipful Company of Paviors
- Worshipful Company of Clockmakers
- Worshipful Company of Glovers
- Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights
- Worshipful Company of Coachmakers
- Worshipful Company of Gold & Silver Wyer Drawers
- Worshipful Company of Farmers
- Worshipful Company of Builders Merchants
- Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks
The Masons Company has been in the vanguard of this event, which has drawn the Lord Mayor of the City of London to attend supported by 18 livery companies.
The Masons Company will have a large marquee and there are 20 stonemasons attending and carving stone.
Of the stonemasons attending, the Masons Company, through its charities, has provided funding for nearly 80% of them.
The Masons Company will be out in force with the Master, Deputy Master, Upper Warden, senior members of the Court and numerous Liverymen attending from across the UK.
The Historic Carving Department City & Guilds of London Art School will be represented by three students who receive Worshipful Company of Masons Bursaries. They are:-
- Miriam Johnson (1st year Diploma)
- Fyfe Sands (2nd year Diploma)
- Thomas Clark-Collins (2nd year Diploma)
Brian Proctor – ex-student of the City & Guilds Historic Carving Diploma course (funded by the National Heritage Training Group while training) will be carving a Lincolnshire Flag with fleur-de-lis (lily) detail.
The Cathedral Workshop Fellowship (CWF) will be represented by the following students in their final year:
- Philip Green, Canterbury Cathedral
- Owen Whitfield, Exeter Cathedral
- James Bayliss, Gloucester Cathedral
- Laura Jeary, Lincoln Cathedral
- Christian Sullivan, Salisbury Cathedral
- Emily Draper, Worcester Cathedral
- Matthew Rowe, York Cathedral
- Ian Chalmers, Durham Cathedral (successfully passed the CWF Diploma while working at Gloucester Cathedral and has now moved to Durham Cathedral to work). Steve Mann from Durham Cathedral will also be there but only to watch as he is not taking part.
Masons from Lincoln Cathedral Stonemasonry Department will be working on a collaborative floral piece, with the individual pieces being included separately in the auction. Those participating are:
- Mike Graves
- Robin Girvan
- Adam Wilcockson
- Martin Ebb working on a separate carving which will be a squirrel
National Heritage Training Group (NHTG) funded placements within the Cathedral Stonemasonry Department (on placement for 12 months) taking part are:
- Stuart Jackson – carving a snake
- Charlie Dashwood