Worshipful Company of Weavers Charter Dinner
In December 2024, Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association, had the honour of serving as a guest speaker at the Worshipful Company of Weavers’ Charter Dinner. The event celebrated and reflected on the charitable initiatives carried out by London’s livery companies.
Other speakers included David Chalk, Sheriff of the City of London, who joined the Drapersā€™ Company in 1982 becoming a Liveryman in 1986 and elected to the Court in 2008, and Rebecca Ridley, Upper Bailiff at Weavers.
Nick delivered a passionate speech on the transformative impact almshouses have on residents’ lives and emphasised the crucial role livery companies play in sustaining and advancing this invaluable charitable model.
The term “livery” comes from the special dress worn by retainers of a nobleman. A livery company is a type of guild or professional association that originated in medieval times in London. Livery companies comprise London’s ancient and modern trade associations and guilds, almost all of which are styled the “Worshipful Company of” their craft, trade or profession.
Livery companies evolved from London’s medieval guilds, becoming corporations by royal charter responsible for training in their trades, as well as for the regulation of aspects such as wage control, labour conditions and industry standards.
From their inception, livery companies cared for their members in sickness and old age by the giving of alms. Today, they continue to support both their members, and wider charitable aims and activities such as education and training. Numerous educational establishments in England were founded by and retain association with livery companies, among the best-known being the Haberdashers’, Merchant Taylors’ and Skinners’ schools.
Most livery companies also maintain proud affiliations with regular and reserve units of the British Armed Forces, providing links between civilian and military life.
There are 111 livery companies in total. They play a significant part in the life of the City of London (i.e. the financial district and historic heart of the capital), not least by providing charitable-giving and networking opportunities. Liverymen retain voting rights for the senior civic offices, such as the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs and Common Council of the City Corporation, London’s ancient municipal authority with extensive local government powers.
The Worshipful Company of Weavers is the most ancient of the Livery Companies in the City of London. It existed in the year 1130, and was perhaps formed earlier. The company received a Royal Charter in 1155.
At present, the Company retains a connection to textiles through its contributions to the textile industry. It has, however, like most other Livery Companies, evolved into a charitable institution rather than remaining a trade association. The Company ranks forty-second in the order of precedence of the Livery Companies. Its motto is Weave Truth With Trust.
6 January 2025