Submitted by Val Hiscock on
The Grand Priory of England and Wales's Spring Investiture was held on Saturday 15th April 2023 at the Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, England. At 11.00am prompt, the procession entered the Church to the splendid organ voluntary ‘Tuba Tune, Op. 15’ by Craig Sellar Lang.
The service was led by The Reverend Canon Brendan Clover SChLJ, OMLJ Chaplain-General of the Grand Priory. The Preacher was The Very Revd Fr Ian Evans ECLJ, CMLJ Chaplain-General Emeritus who deliver an inspiring sermon. The Investing Officer was the Grand Prior of England and Wales, The Most Honourable the Marquis of Lothian PC, GCLJ, GCMLJ, KC, DL assisted by the Bailiff, His Excellency the Chevalier Charles Holloway GCLJ, KMLJ. Postulants were invested and well deserved promotions and awards were presented.
The Soprano Soloist was Miss Rebecca Temple MMLJ who sang the motets ‘How beautiful are the feet’ (from Messiah, HWV 56) by George Frideric Handel and ‘Pie Jesu, Domine, dona eis requiem’ (from Requiem, Op. 48) by Gabriel Fauré.
The service was held by permission of the Rector, The Revd Chris Lion and the Director of Music & Organist was Dr Stephen Bullamore.
At the end of the ceremony, the Grand Prior paid tribute to the Bailiff who will be retiring from office later this year and announced that Chevalier Dr David Woolf KCLJ, OMLJ Deputy Bailiff and Commander of Wales will then become the new Bailiff of the Grand Priory of England & Wales.
The Investiture was followed by dinner at The Saracen’s Head Hotel, Southwell.