A congregation representing a great variety of kinds of public service gathered at St Paul’s Cathedral on 9^th November 2016 to celebrate holders of awards given through the Order of the British Empire.

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh attended the special Evensong service in his role as the Order’s Grand Master.

The Dean of St Paul’s, the Very Revd Dr David Ison, noted how the award holders had ‘touched the lives of millions of citizens of this country and further afield … all in different ways transforming the lives of people and communities for the better. ‘

In the Bidding Prayer, he said: ‘We thank God for the lives of members of the Order, for adventure and courage, idealism and diligence, care and compassion contributed to the life of our world.’ The Rt Revd, Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, who is the Prelate of the Order, delivered the Sermon to the congregation.

Read about the OBE Chapel at St Paul’s Cathedral, the special relationship the Cathedral has with the Order, and Prince Philip’s visit to the Chapel for its dedication in 1960.