Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks explained

The Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks is one of the Guilds of the City of London. It has no livery, because "in the 16th century, the Parish Clerks declined to take the Livery on the grounds that the surplice was older than the Livery and was the proper garb of members of the Company."^[1] It is not, therefore, technically a livery company although to all intents and purposes it acts as such. It is one of two such historic companies without livery, the other being the Company of Watermen and Lightermen.

Although they have no place in the order of precedence, which governs only liveried companies, The Master, Wardens, Assistants and Brethren of the Parish Clerks of the Parish Churches of the City and Suburbs of London and the Liberties thereof, the City of Westminster, the borough of Southwark and the fifteen Out-Parishes adjacent, are among the oldest City companies. Individual members held property on behalf of the Fraternity near Bishopsgate in 1274. The Company was incorporated by Letters Patent on 22 January 1441/2. Later Royal Charters, granted by Charles I, dated February 1635/6 and February 1638/9, are kept in the Guildhall Library.

Parishes

The number of parishes at the time of the 1639 charter was 129, of which 108 were in the City of London. A further twenty one parishes in Middlesex and Surrey within the bills of mortality were added between 1639 and 1825. The Company's 150 parishes are listed below.

Churches included in the Charter of 1639

Additional parishes within the 'bills' of which the parish clerk may be admitted to membership of the Company

St Alban the Martyr, Holborn St Peter ad Vincula (Tower of London),St Anne Soho,St Chad Haggerston,St Clement King Square,St George Hanover Square,Holy Redeemer, ClerkenwellHoly Trinity, HoxtonSt James Piccadilly,St John Westminster,St Mary le Strand,St Paul Covent Garden,Christ Church Southwark,St John Horsleydown,All Saints Poplar,Christ Church Spitalfields,St Anne Limehouse,St George Bloomsbury,St George in the East,St George the Martyr Queen Square,St John Clerkenwell,St John Wapping,St John Waterloo St Luke Old Street,St Mark, Clerkenwell St Matthew Bethnal Green,St Matthew, Westminster St Paul Shadwell,St Peter London Docks St Stephen, Westminster St Paul, West Hackney

Coat of arms

The Company was first granted arms on 16 July 1482. The second grant was made in 1582; these were replaced by a new grant on 16 October 1991, which granted supporters in addition to the previous arms,^[2] blazoned as follows:

Arms

Azure a Fleur de lys or, on a chief gules a leopard's head Or between two 'pricksong books' of the same laced vert.

Supporters

On either side and standing to the front on the capital of an Ionic Column Or and Angel gazing outwards proper winged Or vested of a tunic Argent garnished Or draped over the interior shoulder with a mantle Azure and holding with the interior hand a Trumpet baldrick-wise the bell upwards all gold.

Crest

On a wreath gules and Azure, a cubit arm vested Azure cuffed ermine holding an open 'pricksong' book all proper.

Motto

"Unitas societatis stabilitas"

References

https://londonparishclerks.smugmug.com/History/Company-History/ Parish Clerks website, history section
https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/wiki/Worshipful_Company_of_Parish_Clerks Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks

Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks explained

Parishes

Churches included in the Charter of 1639

In the City of London

In the Liberties of the Tower of London

In the City of Westminster

In the Borough of Southwark

Out-parishes in Middlesex

Out-parishes in Surrey

Additional parishes within the 'bills' of which the parish clerk may be admitted to membership of the Company

Coat of arms

References

Further reading