On Monday 14th October, Simon Miesegaes, the High Sheriff of Warwickshire, marked the start of the legal year with a service in the Collegiate Church of St Mary in Warwick.
The service began with the High Sheriff’s Procession, which entered the church to the processional hymn ‘Christ is made the sure foundation’. We were all welcomed by The Reverend Dr Vaughan Roberts, Rector of St Mary’s Church, who also conducted the Bidding Prayer that focused on a time for reflection and the need for progress. The Reverend was followed by Esther Blaxhall, head girl of Higham Lane School, who read The Prayer of St Francis of Assisi.
The Reverend Sarah Edmonds, Chaplain to the High Sheriff of Warwickshire, led us in the High Sheriff’s Prayer, which was followed by the Carice Singers and Schools’ Choirs, who sang Benedictus. His Honour, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC, Resident Judge at Warwick Crown Court, then provided the first Reading taken from Jeremiah 31, verses 31 to 34.
We were treated to a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace by the Warwick Prep School before Simon Miesegaes gave the second Reading which was taken from John 21, verses 4 to 13. We all then rose to join in with the hymn ‘O praise Him!’.
The address was delivered by the Very Reverend John Witcombe, the Dean of Coventry, and the Intercessions and Collect for Peace were provided the Reverend Sarah Edmonds. In between, the Carice Singers beautifully sang ‘The Armed Man’ and The Lord’s Prayer. We all joined in with the hymn ‘Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!’ before the Reverend Dr Vaughan Roberts read the Collect for the Royal Family. We then finished with the National Anthem and the final procession out of the church was accompanied by Toccata from Symphony Number 5.
I would like to thank the Simon Miesegaes for his kind invitation and to everyone involved in the service, which was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.