The Worshipful Company
of Bowyers
Forthcoming Bowyer Events
Details for proposed future Bowyers' Events
City and other News
Lord Mayor's Christmas Bulletin 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
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City of London Livery Briefing
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Tracing Your Bowyer Ancestors
The Records of London's Livery Companies Online, known as RollCo, is a project which was begun in 2008 to make the membership records of the Companies more readily accessible by a setting up a searchable database.
The Worshipful Company of Bowyers supported the project by providing transcriptions of admission records which are now freely available online at www.londonroll.org and contain details of Apprentices and Freemen of the Company from 1680 to 1900.
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
The Bowyers' Carol Service, 7 December 2020
On Monday 7 December, 17 Bowyers and their families, gathered at the most welcome setting of the Bowyers' home church, St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate, for our annual Bowyers' Family Carol service. The traditional Service of Lessons and Carols, led by Father David Armstrong, our Chaplain, provided a wonderful opportunity for members of the Company to gather together at the start of this most unusual Christmas time.
Remembrance Sunday, 8 November 2020
Sadly the usual Garden of Remembrance event at St Paul's, where we would normally have planted a cross on behalf of the Company, was cancelled this year. However, I am pleased to tell you that we were able to arrange for a wreath from the Bowyers Company to be laid, on our behalf, at a small military ceremony at Warminster Garrison. The wreath was laid outside of Headquarters Infantry and our Liveryman Lt Col Tony Marinos was later able to pay respects on behalf of the Company.
Agincourt Dinner, 15 October 2020
On 15th October, a day before London began its Tier 2 lockdown, the Bowyers Company commemorated the anniversary of Agincourt. Whilst it was not possible to hold our traditional Agincourt Banquet in its full glory, the anniversary did not go unmarked.
In the grand but welcoming setting of the National Liberal Club and with the support of the Beadle, the Clerk and the Chaplain, 19 Bowyers gathered to meet and dine with one another.
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.
