Church service for the Lord Mayor

5th November 2017

St James Garlickhythe

Thirty five years ago, a young Dr Parmley agreed to become an unpaid assistant organist at the Wren church, St James Garlickhythe. The deal was: Andrew Parmley needed an organ to practise on and St James Garlickhythe has one of the best organs in the City. Both Andrew and Wendy Parmley have supported St James for 35 years, providing support for the Sunday school, restoration projects and organising the music. While they have have risen in the City to become Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, he has retained his unpaid position as assistant organist of St James Garlickhythe.

The service was a sung Eucharist and the organist, together with his St James Quintet of outstanding singers, provided a remarkable musical experience. Father Jeremy Crossley gave a moving sermon full of good humour, praising the work of Parmleys. Father Tim Handley later echoed Father Jeremy's sentiments with equal humour. It appears to be a requirement that the City of London's clergy are armed with an acute sense of humour and rapier wit.

When the organist finished the organ voluntary, JS Bach's Prelude in F minor, he was invited down to the knave where a cake had been wheeled out for cutting. The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress duly cut the cake and the congregation chatted over delicious fruit cake and wine. Incidentally, the recipe for the cake had been published by Wendy Parmley, 35 years earlier in the parish magazine.

5 days until the Parmleys vacate Mansion House.