Origin of the Golden Lecture
The Golden Lecture is held annually and in 2021 will be hosted by St Bartholomew the Less church, located across the road from the Haberdashers’ Hall.
The origins of the Lecture come from a generous donation made by one of the Company’s earliest and most generous benefactors, William Jones. Jones made his gift over 400 years ago, and yet his legacy continues to make an impact in the 21st century.
His bequest provides annual funds to both the Bishop of London and the Bishop of Southwark in their support of clergy and ordinands in need.
Jones also wished for his bequest to be used in the appointment of preachers to spread the Gospel, and this request has evolved to become what we now know as the Golden Lecture.
It is unclear why it gained this epithet. One possibility is that the stipend that once accompanied the appointment was seen to be rather generous for preaching just one sermon. Today the Haberdashers’ Company makes a gift of £500 to a charity of the Lecturer’s choices.
| 2021 |
The Revd Dr Robert Reiss | Death Where is Your Sting | |
| 2020 | The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin |
cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic |
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| 2019 |
The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE |
Seeking the welfare of the City: The Role of the Church in turbulent times. |
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| 2018 |
The Revd Alan Gyle |
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| 2017 |
The Right Revd Peter Maurice |
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