Sixty years’ service to the Guild of St Bride

Long-serving Marshal of the Guild of St Bride, Terence Smith, and his family attended a special Guild Evensong at which his exceptional service to the church and Guild was celebrated.

He was installed as an honorary life member and presented with a specially commissioned and distinctive medallion by Guild Master, Lord Black.

The rare honour was agreed by the Court of the Guild who commissioned a one-off version of the Guild’s medallion with a uniquely coloured cord to reflect his new status.

Terence, wife Janet and family together with the newest family member, Bowie the cockapoo, joined the congregation later in the rectory garden for a champagne celebration.

Lord Black said he felt privileged to honour Terence in this way and then spoke of his “incredible, shining service to the Guild and the life of St Bride’s.  And in many ways your name is synonymous with the work of the modern Guild, and we thank you for that.”

Terence first came to St Bride’s as a child and joined the Guild in 1963, which the master said was the year before he was born and he now had a Freedom Pass. This underlined just how long-standing and exceptional Terence’s service has been.

Lord Black said the Guild and church was exceptionally grateful for the work Terence had put in over the years, with the wonderful support of Janet: “Six decades on your commitment is as marvellous and shining as ever.”

Written by: Simon Greaves, Video Revise Editor, Financial Times/FT.com, and member of the Guild of St Bride’s