High Sheriff, Judges and Civic Leaders Mark Beginning of Legal Year at Christ Church with Centuries-Old Tradition
Dignitaries including the High Sheriff, the Vice Lord Lieutenant and senior judges from Oxford and beyond gathered at Christ Church Cathedral on Tuesday evening to mark the beginning of the legal year in a tradition dating to the 1500s.
During a service of Choral Evensong, a pair of white gloves was ceremonially presented to Mr Justice Murray, the Presiding Judge of the High Court’s South Eastern Circuit, by Lord Mayor Mike Rowley, to thank him and his fellow legal professionals for their work in the county.
Gloves were also presented to The Revd Dr Robin Griffith-Jones, the Reverend and Valiant Master of the Temple (that is, priest in charge of London’s Temple Church) by one of Oxford University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellors, The Very Revd Professor Jane Shaw, to thank those who support the legal profession.
Revd Dr Griffith-Jones then preached the annual Court Sermon. For centuries, this address has been given as part of the Assize service by a speaker nominated by the University’s Summoner of Preachers. As minister to two of the four Inns of Court to which all barristers in England and Wales belong, Revd Dr Griffith-Jones was ideally placed to share his insights into the role of Christian ethics at the heart of the law.
The Court Sermon and Glove Ceremony are open to the public and take place every year in the Cathedral. To find out more about attending a service at the Cathedral, including over the Christmas period, visit https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral/worship-and-music.
Lord Mayor Mike Rowley (right) and the Oxford city mace. At over 5 feet tall and weighing nearly 18 pounds, is the largest civic mace in Britain.
Mr Justice Murray, The High Sheriff and the Canons of the Cathedral process into the service
Oxford University's Senior and Junior Proctors are joined by the University bedels, carrying their staves.
The Archdeacon of Oxford, the Venerable Jonathan Chaffey (left) and Mr Justice Murray (right), Presiding Judge of the South East Circuit of the High Court
The High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, Mr James Macnamara, reads from the bible during the service
The Revd Dr Robin Griffiths-Jones preaching his court sermon
From left: Cllr Rawda Jehanli, Deputy Mayor of Abingdon; Cllr Dr Chukwudi Okeke, Chairman of Cherwell District Council; Cllr Damien Maguire, The Mayor of Bicester; Lynda Atkins, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire
Alexander Barfield, High Sheriff of the Royal County of Berkshire, and Kurshida Mirza, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire
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