The Justice Service is an ancient service of Christian worship insituted by the High Sheriffs, at which congregations pray for the visiting High Court Judges. High Sheriffs are appointed by the Crown: formerly county administrators, now responsible for the wellbeing and protection of High Court Judges and for sustaining and improving the morale of people involved in adminstration and charity work, particularly of a judicial or legal nature.

The service has taken place in other parts of the County such as Ely and Peterborough in recent years, but today it came back to Cambridge for the first time in ten years. It was preceded by a grand procession towards Great St Mary’s Church. I should more accurately describe this as a series of processions, as it incorporated various groups:

• Legal
• High Sheriffs past, visiting and present
• University
• Civic (the Town Crier, bailiffs, Sergeant-at-Mace, the Mayor, chairs and mayors from other Cambridgeshire councilsand thepolice chiefs)
• Lord-Lieutenant
• Clergy

all in ceremonial dress. It was very splendid!

We robed at the Master’s Lodge at Trinity College – a real treat, as we were able to see a rich collection of portraits including Edward III all but one Tudor monarchs, Bacon and Newton. My fellow City Bailiffs, Caroline Hart and Margaret Wright, Mayor Shela Stuart, our Segeant-at-Mace and Macebearer, gathered outside in the sunshine with the other processions. We were piped on our way to church by Cllr Russ Macpherson, fetchingly attired in Cambridge tartan, and greeted on arrival with a fanfare of trumpets.

The service, one of Choral Mattins, was held at Great St Mary’s, the university church and the one at which most civic services are held. The address was given by the Rt. Revd. Robert Hardy, the former Bishop of Lincoln and Bishop for prisons. He spoke of the need for the law to impose order on chaos, but for the law to be tempered by humanity, recognizing the chaotic circumstances from which many offenders come.  Although Great St Mary’s has its own excellent choir, we were treated to a visit by St John’s College All-Male Choir. Very fine singing, with some hauntingly beautiful sols, particularly in the plainsong anthem ‘Blessed City’.

It is my hope that today’s activities get the judicial year off to a good start — and thank you to the High Sheriff, Nigel Brown, for bringing it back to Cambridge.

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