Intriguing Service Papers

Within our Archive we have an interesting and fascinating collection of Service Papers right from the very beginning of our history, even before the Cathedral was Consecrated in 1961.

These Service Books provide a unique and interesting outlook as to how society has changed ad developed throughout the history of Guildford Cathedral and also how the regime and routine of the Cathedral has continued over our 55 year history.

They show to us how organisations have chosen to regularly celebrate special occasions up at the Cathedral – for example Reed’s School in Cobham have regularly held their School’s Carol Service up at the Cathedral since 1958, and Guildford High School have likewise held regular services at the Cathedral.

Alongside the continuing and long running services held at the Cathedral we also have many unusual services that have happened up here which no longer occur at the Cathedral, which does demonstrate the shifts among society over the past 50-60 years.

For example we have a copy  of a Service Book for a Service held at the Cathedral on 5th November 1961 for the Triumph Owners Motor Cycle Club, Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication and a Service Book for Lloyd’s Bank Annual Service held in 1958.

We are busy cataloguing our Special Services Books as part of our Cataloguing Project so if you are interested in learning more about our Service Books and to find out just what we have got within our Archive, please do head over to our Catalogue Page .  We are still working on this collection so do keep looking for more updates.