The
Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors is one of
the Livery Companies of the City of London
. The Company, originally known as the
Guild and Fraternity of St John the Baptist in the City of
London, was first incorporated under a
Royal Charter in 1327; the charter was
confirmed by later charters in 1408, 1503 and 1719.
Its seat is the
Merchant
Taylors' Hall
between Threadneedle Street
and Cornhill
, a site it
has occupied since 1347.
History
The Company was at first an association of
tailors. By the end of the 17th century its
connection with the tailoring trade had virtually ceased and it
became what it is today - a philanthropic and social association.
As a result it owns, supports or is associated with several
schools, almhouses and other
charitable institutions.
It owns
Merchant Taylors' School
, Sandy Lodge &
St. John's
Preparatory School, Northwood, and is associated with Merchant
Taylors' School, Crosby
, Merchant Taylors' Girls' School
, Crosby, Wolverhampton Grammar School
, Foyle and Londonderry College
, Wallingford School
, and The King's School,
Macclesfield
. It is also associated with St John's
College, Oxford
, founded by Sir
Thomas White (a Master of the Company) in 1555, and with
Pembroke
College, Cambridge
.
It also
donates prizes to St. Helen's School
, Northwood. It gives support to the Guildhall School of Music
and Drama, the London
College of Fashion, the Textile Conservation Centre and the
Royal Society
of Arts
. It also supports
Treloar
School/College in Hampshire which is a school/college for boys
and girls with physical disabilities.
Ranking
Under an order issued by Mayor Robert Billesden in 1484 the Company
ranks in sixth or seventh place (making it one of the
Great Twelve City Livery
Companies) in the
order of
precedence of the Livery Companies, alternating with the
Skinners' Company.
The annual switch occurs on
Easter. It is
thought possible but unlikely that this is the origin of the phrase
"
At sixes and sevens", as the
phrase is present in the works of
Geoffrey Chaucer over one hundred years
before Lord Mayor Billesden's decision, yet it is quite possible
that the two Companies had been vying for position six for many
decades prior to Billesden's decision. The Merchant Taylors are
normally sixth in the order of precedence in odd numbered years,
and at seven in even numbered years, but as the
Lord Mayor for 2005/6 was a
member of the Merchant Taylor's company there will be no change
until 2008, as the Lord Mayor elected for 2006 was not a
Skinner.
Motto
The Company's motto is
Concordia Parvae Res Crescunt, from
the
Roman historian
Sallust meaning
In Harmony Small Things
Grow.
See also
External links
Wikis
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