The Right Reverend Andrew Watson will preach on ''How all thy lights combine': On the use, abuse and disuse of Scripture' at St Bene't's Church at 11.45 on Tuesday, 24 April.
Currently Lord Bishop of Guildford, Andrew Watson read Law and then Theology at Corpus Christi College, the latter subject while training for the ministry at Ridley Hall. When a student he sang in the Chapel Choir and held a music exhibition, as a bassoonist. At this time he also met his wife, Beverly, then an undergraduate at King's College and now Vicar of All Saints, Guildford.
After parish ministry in Redditch, Notting Hill and Twickenham, Andrew Watson was consecrated as Bishop of Aston in 2008 and later translated to Guildford in 2014. He has published The Fourfold Ministry of Jesus (2008),Confidence in the Living God (2009) and The Way of the Desert (2011). He chairs the national Ordained Vocations Working Group and the Partners in World Mission Conference.
With connections to both Corpus and King's (the colleges to which John Mere belonged) he is delighted to preach at Mere's Commemoration. Drawing together a poem by George Herbert and a passage from the Book of Acts, he will reflect on the use, abuse (and disuse) of scripture.
The Commemoration of John Mere
John Mere, who died in 1558, was a member of King's and Corpus Christi Colleges, an Esquire Bedell and also Registrary of the University. He left property in the parish of St Bene't's, partly to pay for an annual sermon in his memory on particular subjects, to be preached either by the Vice-Chancellor or their nominee. This is now given on the first Tuesday of Full Easter Term.
Certain University Officers, including the Registrary and the two Bedells, receive token payments for attending, as do the Vicar and the Clerk of the Parish. Flowers are placed on Mere's tombstone beforehand and afterwards payments are also made to the inhabitants of the almshouses of St Anthony and St Eligius.
The modern custom is for Corpus Christi College to propose the preacher and Corpus has strong links with St Bene't's, where it is patron of the living and maintains seats for the Master and Fellows. After the service the Master offers refreshment to those attending.
All are welcome. Members of the University should wear their gowns.