Church Patronage

Church Patronage The Grocers’ Company has patronal links with thirteen churches spread across the length of the country, of which five are located in London.
London
	St. Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, EC2, with St. Pancras, Soper Lane; All Hallows, Honey Lane; All Hallows, Bread Street; St. John the Evangelist, Watling Street; St. Augustine with St. Faith under St. Paul's; St. Mildred, Bread Street; and St. Margaret Moyses. All Hallows, Honey Lane was bequeathed to the Grocers’ Company by Simon Streete in 1456. The Benefice of St. Mary-le-Bow is held jointly with the Archbishop of Canterbury who has two presentations to the Company's one.
	St. Stephen, Walbrook, EC4 - and St. Swithun London, Stone with St. Benet Sherehog and St. Mary Bothaw with St. Laurence Pountney - purchased for 325 marks on the 19th of December 1502. The patronage is shared with Magdalene College, Cambridge.
	All Hallows, Devons Road, Bromley-by-Bow, E3. Consecrated on the 16th of May, 1873. One of three Churches erected out of the sale proceeds of the site of the church and parsonage of All Hallows Staining, Mark Lane, which under the provision of the Union of Benefices Act 1860, and a Special Act obtained by the Company (Lady Slaney's Trust Estate 1869) was pulled down and the parish united with that of St. Olave, Hart Street. Having been united in 1990 with the parish of Holy Trinity, Mile End Old Town to create a new team ministry, in March 2003 it reverted to being a single parish within its original boundaries. It is now called "The benefice and parish of All Hallows, Bromley-by-Bow" The patronage is held jointly in their corporate capacity by The Bishop of London and The Grocers’ Company.
	Holy Trinity, Bow Road, E3. Having been united in 1990 with the parish of All Hallows, Bromley-by-Bow to create a new Team Ministry, in March 2003 it reverted to being a single parish within its original boundaries. In 2006 Holy Trinity united with St. Mary’s Church, Bow Road. It is now known as “The benefice of St Mary, Bow w. Bromley St. Leonard, & parish of Holy Trinity Mile End”. In response to the parishes’ request, the Grocers’ Company continue to hold the patronage jointly with The Bishop of London. (St. Mary, Bow is pictured left)
	St. Paul’s, Homerton, Glyn Road, High Street, Homerton, E9, consecrated on the 23rd of July 1891 and one of the three Churches erected under Lady Slaney's Trust Estate Act, 1869. In 1981, the benefices and parishes of St. Barnabas, Homerton, and St. Paul, Lower Homerton were united, and the parish church of St. Paul declared redundant. Then in 1985 the benefice of St. Barnabas with St. Paul was united with the benefice of All Souls, Clapton Common, to create a new benefice named ‘The Benefice of Hackney Marsh’. Rectors are presented by a patronage board consisting of the Bishop of London, the Grocers' Company, and the Trustees of All Souls, Clapton Common. (St. Baranbas, Homerton high St is pictured left)
Bedfordshire
	St. Mary Virgin, Northill, three and a half miles from Biggleswade, was purchased under Dame Margaret Slaney’s Trust in 1620. The tower contains a turret clock, reputedly built in 1663 by Thomas Tompion from Northill.The Living was put in suspension following the retirement of the incumbent in 1996, and in 1998 it was united with the benefices of Caldecote and Old Warden to form ‘The benefice of Caldecote, Northill and Old Warden’.
	All Saints, Caldecote, was built under the leadership of the Reverend A.S. Pott, Rector of Northill - a Liveryman of the Company - and consecrated by the Bishop of Ely in April 1868. In 1998, the benefices of Caldecote, Northill and Old Warden were united to create ‘The benefice of Caldecote, Northill and Old Warden’. The right of presentation to the new benefice will be exercised in a recurring series of three successive turns of which The Grocers’ Company shall have the first and third and the Trustees of The R.O. Shuttleworth Remembrance Trust shall have the second.
Hertfordshire
	St. Michael and All Angels, Waterford presented in 1939 by Captain R. Abel Smith MC. United with the parishes of Bramfield and Stapleford , it has now been joined by the parish of Watton-at-Stone, and from 1st August 1999, the new united benefice has been known as “The Benefice of Bramfield, Staplefield, Waterford and Watton-at-Stone”. Right of presentation to the new benefice will be exercised in a recurring series of four successive turns, of which the Grocers’ Company has the third.
Devonshire
	St. Peter's, Ugborough, fourteen miles from Plymouth, nine from Totnes. Purchased under Dame Margaret Slaney's Trust in 1786. In 1991, the Benefices of Ermington and Ugborough were united to form ‘The Benefice of Ermington and Ugborough’. The first incumbent was the Rector of Ugborough. The incumbent of the new benefice is presented in turns by the Crown, The Bishop of Exeter and the Grocers' Company jointly who have the second, third, and fourth turns.
Shropshire
	St. Mary's, Bucknell, situated between Knighton and Ludlow. Purchased under Dame Margaret Slaney's Trust in 1762. In 1991, the benefice of Bucknell with Buckton, Llanfair Waterdine and Stowe was united with that of Chapel Lawn to create the benefice of Bucknell with Chapel Lawn, Llanfair, Waterdine, and Stowe. The first incumbent was the Rector of Bucknell. The right of presentation to the new benefice is exercised jointly by The Earl of Powys, The Grocers' Company, and Mr. J. Coltman Rogers.
Buckinghamshire
	St. John Baptist, Stone, with Hartwell and Bishopstone - presented by Mr. A.C. Benedict Eyre MBE in 1964 - was united with the benefice of Dinton in 1977. The new benefice is called Stone with Dinton and Hartwell. Rectors are presented by The Bishop of Oxford and The Grocers' Company.
Cornwall
	St. Ladoca, Ladock - presented by Mrs. Raffles-Flint in 1930 - was united with the benefices of Probus and Creed in 1973. The new benefice, which is now known as Probus, Ladock, St. Erme, and Creed with Grampound and Grampound Road, is served by a Team Ministry - the Rector and a Vicar, with the latter based at Ladock. Rectors are presented by the Truro Diocesan Board of Patronage on which the following are entitled to be represented: the Grocers' Company, the Patrons of the Benefice of Creed, and The Bishop of Truro.
	St. Matthew, Highfield - the church was built at Highfield, nr Wigan, by Colonel Henry Blundell, in memory of his late wife, who died in 1884. In 2008 the Company became a co-patron upon the introduction of Mr. Martyn Hedley, a descendant of Colonel Blundell. Incumbents are presented by a Board of Patronage upon which the Company is entitled to be represented.

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