Significant Dates for the Company

1274 Property held on behalf of the Fraternity of St. Nicholas in the parish of St. Ethelburga on the east side of Bishopsgate now called Clerks’ Place.

1390 Plays presented at Clerkenwell, and at Skinners’ wells in 1409.

1422 Brewers’ Hall used for meetings of the Guild.

1442 Henry VI incorporates the Company by Royal Charter. 

1448 Henry VI grants a second Charter. 1449 Bede Roll begun (until 1521).

1475 Charter of King Edward IV.

1482 Grant of Arms (aspergilia).

1530 Ordinances approved by Sir Thomas More (Lord Chancellor)

1546 Company requested by the Lord Mayor to report deaths of freemen.

1553 First Hall demolished (Corporation plaque in Clerks’ Place, Bishopsgate).

1554 Company sang mass in Guildhall Chapel before the election of the Lord Mayor.

1562 Second Hall occupied in Brode Lane in Vintry Ward.

1568 William Roper’s benefactions.

1582 Second Grant of Arms (prick-song book).

1601 Crowns made for installation of two Masters (until 1639).

1610 Charter of King James I. 1625 Printing press set up in Hall.

1636 Charter of King Charles I.

1639 Present charter granted by King Charles I.

1666 Second Hall consumed in the Great Fire.

1671 Third Hall erected in Wood Street in the ward of Cripplegate Within.

1737 Organ made by Richard Bridge placed in the Hall.

1787 Beadle’s staff head presented.

1824 Last parish added to the Bills of Mortality (All Saints Poplar).

1826 Richard Hust’s first benefactions.

1823 Almshouses built in Camberwell (area redeveloped after the war).

1922 Presentation by a former Master (E.J. Trustram) of a banner depicting St Nicholas.

1940 Third Hall destroyed on 29/30 December. (Plaque in Wood Street).

1969 Master first acted as crucifer at Michaelmas Day Service in St Lawrence Jewry.

1971 Publication of the Company history ‘The Parish Clerks of London’ written by R.H. Adams. 1972 Masque – ‘Ye Clerkes of London’ – first performed.

1974 Commemorative Tree planted in St Paul’s Churchyard.

1977 Brethren at United Guilds Service seated in front row of South Transept.

1982 Chest for Altar frontals placed in St Lawrence Jewry in memory of J W Murphy.

1984 Clerks’ Well reopened in Clerkenwell.

1986 The Company dines at Lambeth Palace on St Nicholas Day at Patron’s invitation.

1990 Masque performed to commemorate 600th Anniversary of 1390 plays.

1991 Grant of present Arms with Supporters. 

1991 Replicas of 17th Century Crowns made in memory of Dr. D.L. Scott.

1999 First woman parish clerk admitted.

2000 Debut performance of Millennium Anthem (Psalm 93) commissioned by the Company.

2002 HRH The Duke of Gloucester dines with the Company at the Patronal Dinner.

2004 Association formed with the Royal Army Chaplains' Department on the initiative of Past Master Colin Cleugh.

2004 Publication of the Bede Roll edited by Dr N.W. James and his wife Valerie launched at Lambeth Palace on 6th July.

2006 First admission to membership of the Company of a serving Lord Mayor, Alderman D.W.Brewer, parish clerk of St Pancras Soper Lane.

2006 Presentation, by Past Master John Gaze, of a new jewelled badge for the Master.

2008 Gift of three silver wine goblets in memory of Past Master Emeritus Arthur John Price.

2010 Association with the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department extended to include the Chaplaincy Services of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.

2017 Performance of Mystery Play at Lincoln Cathedral.

2018 First Lady Master.