“YORK'S mediaeval Gild of Butchers has installed its first female master in the gild's 700 year history.
Sarah-Jane Trueman, who runs a well known butchers business in Thirsk, Johnsons of Thirsk, was installed at a Court Meeting of the Gild held at All Saints Church in Pavement on Shrove Tuesday.”

Read the full article at The Press: http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/14274858.display/

During the summer an invitation was received by the Clerk for up to 10 of the members of the York Gild, who were not Liverymen, to visit the Worshipful Company of Butchers in London on 10th September 2015 on the occasion of their meeting of Common Hall.  This meeting is usually restricted to Liverymen only so the members of York were very privileged to receive such an invitation. 

The day commenced with a service at the Priory Church of St. Bartholomew the Great in Smithfield. It was then followed by a short walk to Ironmongers Hall, Barbican, for the meeting of Common Hall, where the new Master of the Company, Patricia Dart, was declared.

​Formalities over all present then enjoyed lunch in the wonderful surroundings of Ironmongers Hall before departing back to Yorkshire.

The first Thursday in February of this year saw the annual visit down to The Worshipful Company of Butchers, London for the Master, David Clapham who was also accompanied by the Clerk.

Unlike previous occasions this visit was to the Ironmongers Hall as Butchers Hall in London is now closed and will be for the following four years for redevelopment of the area around it and refurbishment of the Hall itself.

The Master and the Clerk were both invited to attend the meeting of the Court of Assistants of the Worshipful Company prior to attending the Livery Luncheon.   

At the luncheon the Master took his place on the top table along with the other guests of the Company, Mr Chris Cummings Chief Executive, The City UK, Mr James Crockatt, Prime Warden , The Worshipful Company of Dyers, and  Mr Robin Furber, Master of  The Worshipful Company of Pewterers.

The Annual Church Service was held at the end of October where the Master, Wardens and members of the Gild were joined by the Civic Party and Masters of the other York Guilds. The procession leaves St Crux to walk up the shambles on route to All Saints Pavement where they are joined by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, the Sherriff and the Sherriff’s Lady.

As Master of the Gild during the quadrennial year of the Waggon Plays I had a immense sense of pride and honour in our production this year. Our new Director Tom Strasz produced what I considered to be one of the most dramatic I have seen over the past Sixteen years. Under Tom's direction and modern day interpretation the actors from St Chads combined to produce a most memorable event for all those privileged to watch.

I must also thank those members of the Gild who contributed to preparing and maintaining the Waggon and providing the power to move it over the two Sundays and not forgetting a number of individuals who contributed as programme sellers and helpers. You have my most sincere thanks and appreciation.

The Master, David R. Clapham

A selection of photographs from the The Crucifixion/Death of Christ from the York Mystery Plays 2014, as brought forth by The Company of Butchers, can be seen on our Flickr page.

The Master was pleased to join the Officers and Members of the Guilds at the United Gilds Service on May 25th.

The parade began outside the Merchant Adventurers Hall to All Saints Church. After the service, the Lord Mayor presented the Billets for the Waggon Plays.

With less than a month to go until the waggons roll on to the streets of York, you can keep up to date with events on the York Mystery Plays Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/Yorkmysteryplay

The plays will be performed across the city on Sunday 13th and Sunday 20th July 2014.