Thank you to all who joined us on Thursday 8th January 2026 for the service of Institution, Induction and Installation of The Reverend Phillip Dawson as Rector of Saint Olave Hart Street and All Hallows Staining with St Catherine Coleman. A copy of the order of service is at this link.
Huge thanks to the St Olave Scholars, the St Olave Singers and members of the Hanover Choir, to Colin Spinks our Director of Music and Jonathan Pease on the organ and to The Reverend Ben Cahill Nicholls for acting as Cantor, to Ryan, Alex and the University of London Society of Change Ringers for all the wonderful music and the special peals. Thank you to Henry Lamprecht and David Bednall for composing choral and organ pieces especially for this service. Thank you to Jacquie Binns who designed the wonderful Olaf as Warrior and Saint preaching scarf that Phillip wore and to Lewis Hazelwood Horner for painting the service. An historic occasion – Bishop Sarah’s last official visit to the parish and her last service of Installation in London before she makes history by becoming the next Archbishop of Canterbury. We are so grateful that she was able to make time in her diary for the service and to her Chaplain The Reverend Robert Coupland, The Venerable Katherine Hedderly, Archdeacon of Charing Cross and The Reverend Laura Jørgensen, Area Dean of the City for all their assistance. Thank you to the clergy from across the City and further afield (including Gloucester and France) who joined us for the service and to the clergy and people of the Norwegian Church in Rotherhithe. Thank you to Georgia our Parish Administrator, Paul our Verger, Tom Barclay Matchett as member of the Patronage Trust, PCC and Crucifer, Dr Carolyn Boulter DL for representing the Patronage Trust, to all four churchwardens, members of the PCC and congregation of St Olaves, to Dr Jim Harris our Lay Minister for introducing speakers at the reception.
We are indebted to friends at Trinity House for hosting the reception after the service, especially Commodore Martin Atherton and Captain Nigel Hope, as well as all the hospitality team for their support.
Thank you to all our special guests from Cory Group, Miller Insurance, The Lloyds Register of Shipping whose offices are in our parish, as well as staff from the Museum of Migration who are soon to move in.
Thank you too all those who officially welcomed Phillip to St Olave Hart Street:
Common Councilmen James Tumbridge and Jason Groves and to Jason for representing the Alderman Sir Nicholas Lyons by giving the official welcome during the service
Sir David Latham PC, Chairman of The Samuel Pepys Club
Mr Darren Marston, Master of The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners
The Honourable Mary Ann Slim, Master of The Clothworkers’ Company
Dr Øystein Lund, Counsellor for Research and Education, Royal Norwegian Embassy, on behalf of His Excellency The Ambassador of Norway
Captain Nigel Hope, Upper Warden of The Corporation of Trinity House
These wonderful photos are by Mark Dalton.
We are sorry that we had limited capacity in the church and at the reception but we hope all who were not able to join us on Thursday evening will be able to attend a special service of Holy Communion followed by a Parish Party on Sunday 11th January at 11am, to mark Phillip’s first official Sunday in the parish as Rector.
