On 30 August 2023 St Bartholomew the Great and the Cloth Fair group staged two events in advance of the City-wide Bartholomew Fair spectacular. Programmes here.
Ribbon cutting ceremony
The first was a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony by the Lord Mayor Nicholas Lyons in front of St Bartholomew’s Gatehouse. Here’s a tweet from St Bartholomew’s with a video explanation from the Reverend Marcus Walker.
The story of the cutting of the ribbon and its revival for #BartholomewFair2023 pic.twitter.com/YpadQVRgbS
— Great St Bartholomew (@StBartholomews) August 31, 2023
Below is a video of the event. More about the re-staging of Bartholomew Fair here.
St Bartholomew’s posted earlier –
The fabric to be cut by the Lord Mayor this evening as we revive the tradition is designed by noted artist Damien Hirst. His sculpture portraying the pain of St Bartholomew's martyrdom is housed here in the church pic.twitter.com/cqPuWlXGnE
— Great St Bartholomew (@StBartholomews) August 30, 2023
The Great Disputation
The second event, immediately after the ceremony inside the church, was The Great Disputation on the proposition that “This House believes that the love of money is the root of all the nation’s evils”
The Great Disputation opens with @bishopsarahM expressing relief that she won't be asked any questions and wondering whether @WalkerMarcus will be able to avoid the temptation to interrupt #barts900
— Great St Bartholomew (@StBartholomews) August 30, 2023
Click Read 1 reply above for the thread, including this zinger from Michael Gove
Asking whether the world would be better off if some people who had gained power had instead pursued money, @michaelgove said 'if my dear friend Elizabeth Mary Truss had developed an undoubtedly successful business career, would we be better off?'
— Great St Bartholomew (@StBartholomews) August 30, 2023