Festival of the Sons of the Clergy
The Festival of the Sons of the Clergy ( Feast of the sons of the clergy ) is a year in London held charity event . It consists of a solemn service at St Paul's Cathedral and a gala dinner, the collections and proceeds of which are used to care for widows and children of clergymen in the Church of England . The service has been a highlight of church music for over 300 years and a forum for outstanding preachers of the English Church. The festival also serves as a public meeting of church and state representatives.
The first festival took place in 1655 and was intended to provide a livelihood for the bereaved of clergymen who had remained loyal to the king under Oliver Cromwell and had therefore lost their income.
Web links
- Website of the Sons of the Clergy (English)