Cultural Office
27 November 2008
50th Anniversary of the St. Paul’s Thanksgiving Day Service
An image from last year’s Thanksgiving Day Service (photo courtesy of Roland Kemp)
Related:
• A Proclamation by the President for Thanksgiving Day
• Thanksgiving Day a Time for Reflection, Gratitude, Sharing
This year is the 50th anniversary of the annual US Thanksgiving Day Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The event will be a non-denominational, American-style service, organized by the American Church in London (ACL). ACL’s Reverend John A. D’Elia will be reading the sermon and a volunteer American choir will be singing hymns. U.S. Ambassador Robert H. Tuttle will also be giving remarks.
For over a century, St Paul’s has had a special relationship with Americans. In 1903, J. Pierpont Morgan, the famous financier, donated the funds to bring electricity to the Cathedral. Following World War II, the British people raised funds to build the American Memorial Chapel to replace the bomb-damaged east end of the Cathedral, which was dedicated by Queen Elizabeth II in 1958.
No tickets are needed for the service this year, but each person may be required to pass through a metal detector and have bags searched. Given the high level of security, it is important to arrive at the Cathedral early. Photography in the Cathedral is not permitted. Mobile phones should be switched off. The doors open at 9:45 a.m. Please plan to arrive no later than 10:30 a.m. Entry will be via the west end of the Cathedral. Closest Tube stop: St. Paul’s (Central line). For more information please visit www.stpauls.co.uk .
For more see the letter from Ambassador Tuttle (PDF) and the flyer about the event (PDF).
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Thanksgiving Service