A remarkable anniversary

Last Sunday we marked the 65th wedding anniversary of Graham and Judith Wear at our services in St Bride’s.

In the 1950s, Graham was a journalist at Reuters, then based at the office building next door to St Bride’s, and Judith was a private nurse. Both are New Zealanders from the capital, Christchurch. They were introduced by a mutual friend and first met in Piccadilly Circus, famous for its statue of Eros (which is in fact a statue of Anteros, the god of requited love).

The couple used to journey each week by tube from Earls Court to St Bride’s to attend the Sunday morning service. It was customary then for the congregation to adjourn to the Red Lion tavern after the service, where they would meet up with The Revd Cyril Armitage, the Rector, who Judith described as “a gentle, kindly father-figure”.

Cyril may have been a gentle figure but his steely determination, vision and energy established a restoration fund after the war which enabled St Bride’s to rise from the ashes of the firebombing. The Armitage family are still well connected to St Bride’s and his grandson, Edward Armitage, is a member of the Guild of St Bride.

When Graham and Judith got engaged, they decided to marry in St Bride’s but did not meet the qualifying criterion at that time of living in the parish. Cyril suggested an interesting solution – Graham should leave a bag with his pyjamas and a toothbrush at the Verger’s parish flat to establish his residency!

Their joyous wedding on Tuesday 8th September in 1959 was attended by 45 guests, mainly from New Zealand. Graham went on to become a member of the Guild of St Bride and his treasured Guild medallion hangs in the couple’s country home near Auckland, its blue ribbon faded by time and Antipodean sun.

Graham and Judith contacted us over the summer as they wanted to mark their anniversary by paying for the flowers in church that day. The magnificent arrangement next to the main altar was created by our talented Head Verger (and unofficial head florist), Robin. Our thanks to them for their kindly donation.

We wish Graham and Judith many congratulations on their inspiring 65 years of marriage and every blessing for the years ahead.