Annual service at Sheffield Cathedral held to remember Mary Parsons Charity and silversmithing community
Published: 7th January 2025
The Mary Parsons Charity and the silversmithing community remembered in The Feast of St John the Evangelist service at Sheffield Cathedral.
High on a wall in the Nave of Sheffield Cathedral is a plaque dedicated to John Parsons, an early silversmith of Sheffield. In 1817, Mary, his sister left a bequest in her will for the amount of £1,500 to benefit old, infirm and poor Sheffield silversmiths.
This year the service was officiated by The Very Reverend Abi Thompson, Dean of Sheffield, who kindly offered to remember Mary and John Parsons and the Silversmithing community past and present in the city and talked of community being of great importance at this time, in her sermon and in prayers at the annual service held on the 27th December 2024.
Chairman of the Mary Parsons Charity and Sheffield Assay Master, Mr Ashley Carson and Trustees, Brett Payne, Chris Hudson and Emma Paragreen, along with representatives of the trade and beneficiaries of the charity attended the service.
Assay Master, and Chairman of the Mary Parsons Charity commented.
"I am really grateful to Sheffield Cathedral for giving a profile of this unique Charity, remembering John and Mary Parsons and the Silversmiths and metalworkers of the City of Sheffield. I especially want to thank The Very Reverend Abi Thompson, Dean of Sheffield, Tom Daggett, Director of Music, James Mitchell, Organist, the Choir and the current Junior Organ Scholar Freddie Wright and James Caroe, former Junior Organ Scholar from 2023- 24. And additionally, those in the trade who have donated to the charity this year to support the beneficiaries; it is gratefully appreciated"
Beneficiaries of the Mary Parsons Charity received their cheques after the service and tea, coffee and mince pies were served.
If you would like to find out more about the charity, information is available via https://calendarcustoms.com/articles/sheffield-mary-parsons-charity and The Mary Parsons Charity | Sheffield Assay Office
In the meantime anyone wishing to make a donation for 2025, Bank Transfers can be made to The Mary Parsons Charity, Sort Code 20-76-92, Account Number 33363791 or cheques can be made payable to 'Mary Parsons Charity' and sent to:
Sheffield Assay Office, Guardians' Hall, Beulah Road, Hillsborough, Sheffield, S6 2AN
Image accompanying the text:
Image Group photograph of the Trustees, Beneficiaries and Dean, Image of the Choir, Image of the handing out of cheques
Notes for the editor:
Sheffield Assay Office and the Mary Parsons Charity links
https://www.assayoffice.co.uk/
https://www.assayoffice.co.uk/the-library-and-the-silver-collection/the-mary-parsons-charity
Sheffield Cathedral - https://www.sheffieldcathedral.org/
Instagram Sheffield Cathedral (@sheffieldcathedral) for Instagram photos and videos
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