Bishop of Coventry to Preach at Mere's Commemoration

The title for the sermon is ‘Melanesian martyrs, Coventry confession and the future of peace’.

A graduate of the University of Manchester, Dr Cocksworth was formerly Principal of Ridley Hall in Cambridge. He is the youngest serving diocesan bishop in the Church of England.

John Mere was an Esquire Bedell and also later Registrary (1543-1558) of the University, and a member of both King's and Corpus Christi Colleges.

He was only the second Registrary of the University to be appointed, the office having been created in 1506.

Mere died leaving property in the Parish, part of the income from which was to pay for the preaching of an annual Sermon on particular subjects and in his memory.

Certain University officials, including the Registrary and the Esquire Bedells, and also the Vicar and the Clerk of the Parish, still receive what is now a purely token payment if they attend the Sermon.

Before the service starts the University places flowers on Mere's tombstone by the Church door and a small payment is made afterwards to the inhabitants of the Almshouses of St Antony and St Eligius.

The Sermon is to be preached either by the Vice-Chancellor or by a person nominated by him, and the modern custom is for the Master of Corpus Christi College to recommend persons for appointment.

The College has strong historic links with St Benet's, maintains seats in the Church for the Master and Fellows, and is the Patron with the right to appoint the Vicar.

The Master of Corpus Christi College offers hospitality to Mere's Preacher and refreshment to the Congregation after the Sermon.

All are welcome. Members of the University attending the Sermon should wear their gowns.

Picture Credit: Mike Baker of the Rugby Advertiser