Three schools join forces at Cathedral for Charter Day

Colston’s School, Colston’s Girls' School and Merchants' Academy joined forces for Charter Day service at Bristol Cathedral where this year’s preacher was the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey of Clifton.

	Pupils of Colston's School carrying their Colston buns accompanied by the incoming Master of the Society of Merchant Venturers, Mr Giles Clarke and the Headmaster, Mr Peter Fraser

Pupils from all three schools packed the Cathedral for the annual service which marked the 371st anniversary of the date when the Royal Charter was granted to the Society of Merchant Venturers who act as trustees to Edward Colston’s endowment.

	Charter Day Service in Bristol Cathedral

This year is also the 300th anniversary of the founding of Colston’s School.

	Chairman of Governors and Senior Warden of the Society of Merchant Venturers, Mr David Marsh, presenting "shillings" at the Charter Day Service
	Above and below - The Master of the Society of Merchant Venturers, Mr Giles Clarke, presenting "shillings" at the Charter Day Service to Colston's pupils

The combined choirs sang under the direction of John Shooter, Matthew Redman and Neil Tamlyn, Directors of Music at Colston’s, Colston’s Girls and Merchants Academy.

The event, which included a ceremonial procession of Bristol’s Merchants, also signifies a change of Master. At a ceremony at Merchants' Hall later in the day Colin Skellett handed over to Giles Clarke, the incoming Master.

By tradition, all pupils at the service received a Colston’s bun and 10p as they left the Cathedral.

	Colston's famous Old Boy, the poet Thomas Chatterton, did not miss out on his share of the Colston buns.