SPIRITUAL SERVICE
Towards the end of last year the
Very Reverend Dr David Ison retired after 10 years as Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral. Throughout David’s tenure he provided, as put by the Bishop of London Sarah Mullally, “skilful and sensitive stewardship”. There were lighter times along the way, too, as David shared with us.
“A particular role for the dean is to welcome the principal guests at major services and walk with them in procession through the middle of the cathedral. St Paul’s had no heating system until the Victorians put stoves in the crypt and punched holes through the floor, topped with brass gratings which had a cover put over them when female members of the Royal Family were in attendance.
“At one service I was talking with the only member of the Royal Family in attendance just as we were about to set off, and he asked why the covers were not there, and did I know that Queen Mary had broken the heel of her shoe on a grating in the 1920s? To which I replied, ‘Yes, sir, but we didn’t think that for you it would be a problem.’
“Another aspect of life at St Paul’s has been occasional interruption of its services by protestors promoting various causes. I was about to preach at one televised service when four women chained themselves to the pulpit. When they stopped shouting and we could proceed, I opened my sermon with, ‘I can honestly say that this is the first time I’ve preached to a truly captive audience.’
“St Paul’s is for those who see it a symbol of London. It is also a place of prayer and worship, and a witness to the endurance of faith and hope – and, as with the Remember Me memorial to those who have died due to the pandemic, St Paul’s continues its prayer and work on behalf of everyone.”
David, we thank you and wish you every happiness in your retirement.
Read about St Paul’s architect Christopher Wren on p43.