IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 A/FSC
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: FESTIVAL OF THE SONS OF THE CLERGY
Date(s): 1692-1955
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 4.08 linear metres
Name of creator(s): Festival of the Sons of the Clergy
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The circle of Anglicans whose efforts led to the incorporation of the Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy charity had for many years previously been pursuing the aims formulated in the Charter of 1678 by means of the annual Festival of the Sons of the Clergy. This enabled the raising of money at a solemn service, held in a prominent church in the Capital, and a grand feast to follow, at which the liberal benefactions of the wealthy were solicited. The origins of the Festival are obscure, the first extant Sermon preached on such an occasion being dated 1655.
The Festival, with its organisers and administrators, must be regarded as the parent of the Corporation. No doubt practical experience showed the creation of a Corporation to be the best means of ensuring orderliness and continuity in the administration of such a Charity. If the annual benevolence of the Festival attracted offers of endowment by estates, which would yield a regular and permanent income, the creation of a body corporate would be the only way of avoiding the tiresome necessity of continual renewal of trustees to make up for depletions by death.
The Festival, with its Stewards and Secretary, and the Corporation, with its Court of Assistants and Registrar, continued as separate, though closely linked, entities, and the same people were often active in both. The funds raised at the Festival were administered separately until in the 1830's they were handed over to the Corporation to administer though still as a separate fund.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Records of the Festival of the Sons of the Clergy, including minutes and agendas; correspondence; memoranda; financial accounts; sermons; reports; advertising material; scrapbooks; and ephemera relating to the festival (handbills, orders of service, tickets, invitations and so on).
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
A/FSC-1: Administration; A/FSC-2: Finance; A/FSC-3: Related Documentation.
Conditions governing access:
Available for general access.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.
Physical characteristics:
Fit
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Records deposited in September 1966.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Related material:
See A/CSC for records of the Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy.
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Date(s) of descriptions: June to August 2010.