The Worshipful Company
of Bowyers
Forthcoming Bowyer Events
Poitiers Lecture & Supper,
Wed 18 Nov 2020
Bowyers' Carol Service,
St Botolph's, Monday 7 December 2020
Further details of Bowyers' Events
City and other News
Lord Mayor's bulletin, 1 August 2020
Click here to view
Eucharist service from St Botolph
Although the church building at St Botolph remains closed, the Priest in Charge (and our Chaplain, Fr David Armstrong) will continue to stream a short Eucharist service at 8.10am every Tuesday morning, and a Eucharist service with sermon every Wednesday lunchtime at 1.10pm. These can be viewed at any time, and are found at www.botolph.org.uk/online-service-video/
Mercian Regiment Update
A copy of the regiment's latest quarterly newsletter can be found at this link
Mercian Officer to undertake the Marathon des Sables
Lt Col Andrew Smallbone of the Mercian Regiment will be undertaking the Marathon de Sables next year in order to raise money for Walking with the Wounded. You can read all about his plans for this challenge and the work of this Charity as well as sponsor him should you wish at this link.
Suited and Booted newsletter
Download a copy here
City of London Livery Briefing
Download the latest edition
About the Bowyers
The Worshipful Company of Bowyers is one of the older and smaller of the City of London's livery companies. We celebrate our piece of history, we work hard at our charitable activity, and we provide a convivial sociable environment that keeps our members engaged... Find out more
Mercian Regiment Crich Pilgrimage 2020
The first Sunday in July is the date of the annual Mercian Regiment pilgrimage to their regimental war memorial on the hilltop at Crich in Derbyshire. It is usually attended by around 1,000 people, representing the Mercians, their antecedent regiments and the Mayors of all the towns in their five counties, each of whom laid a wreath, joined on the hill in recent years by the Master Bowyer or his representative.
Installation Service, 8 July 2020
The Bowyers' Installation was always going to take place on 8 July, we just didn't know where and in what form. However, I am delighted to report to you that following some last minute planning and plenty of flexibility Mr David Laxton was installed as the Master Bowyer in the Church of St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate.
'Bowyers Mercian Regiment Charity Supper 9 September 2020
The Bowyers were very pleased to be able to host The Mercian Regimental Secretary, Brig (Retd) Peter Dennis CBE and the Regimental Through Life Care Officer Lt Col (Retd) Bill Temminck BEM for a supper evening at the Market Porter on Wednesday 9 September.
Our Coat of Arms
The arms of the Company were granted by Sir Thomas Holme, Clarenceux King of Arms on 10 November 1488. The main charge is the 'flote' which was a device for planing and smoothing the bow stave. The chevron has no special meaning but is simply to separate the 'flotes' in the design. It is commonly found at this time in arms granted to corporations, livery companies and others. Likewise, so far as we know the mullets are merely decorative.
The Crest of three bows may represent the product in use and ties up neatly with the motto: Crecy, Poitiers, Agincourt.
The Supporters were granted in July 1996. The dexter is a representative of a medieval bowyer in the livery of his Company (black and white) holding a 'flote' as one of the tools of his trade. The sinister, a representation of an archer of the time of Agincourt symbolises the product in use.
The supporters stand upon a green mound which is strewn with pointed stakes set at an angle such as were used by the archers at Agincourt as a defence against cavalry.
