Founder’s Day - The 2021 Sion College Lecture

 “The Biden Difference – What it means for the US & for the world"

Sir David Manning GCMG, KCVO

Sir David Manning joined the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in 1972 and served in Warsaw, New Delhi, Paris and Moscow as well as London before becoming British Ambassador to Israel in 1995. Three years later he returned to London as Deputy Under Secretary of State for Defence & Intelligence, was the UK Permanent Representative at NATO and then Foreign Policy Adviser to the then Prime Minister. From 2003 until 2007 he served as Ambassador to the United States, since when he has held various public & non-executive appointments.

The College is very grateful to the Rector and Churchwardens of St Mary-le-Bow who have kindly agreed to host the evening at a time when Lambeth Palace is undergoing significant works during the Archbishop's sabbatical leave. Evening Prayer is at 5.30pm (paper orders of service are not used – please use the CW App).

The Lecture will begin at 6pm & will be followed by a Reception. The lecture will be given on the basis of the Chatham House rule under which participants are free to use the information received but the identity and affiliation of participants may not be revealed.

Online application and payment is available for this event. To apply and pay online you will first need to register if you haven't done so already. Once the Administrator has approved your registration, you will be able to log in and access the online application/payment. You will only need to register once, and for any applications for subsequent events you will need only to log in.

Click here, once you have logged in, to access the online application and payment form.

Sion College Afternoon Family Event at Westminster Abbey

One of the highlights of the Sion College year is usually our annual trip to the Pantomime – this year of course that had to be cancelled.

So in July the College is holding a family event along similar lines. The Dean and Chapter of Westminster have kindly agreed to welcome Sion College members and their families to afternoon tea in College Garden (marquee available if the weather is not kind to us).

As always, this event is heavily subsidised with the cost to Sion College members and their parties held at just £10 for adults, with no charge for school-age children.

The event begins at 2:30 and there will be a magic show at 3:30 with entertainer and magician Professor Palmermoff, who will also mingle with guests before his show. There is the option of staying for Evensong at 5pm in the Abbey and a private tour of the Abbey afterwards.

Online application and payment is available for this event. To apply and pay online you will first need to register if you haven't done so already. Once the Administrator has approved your registration, you will be able to log in and access the online application/payment. You will only need to register once, and for any applications for subsequent events you will need only to log in.

Click here, once you have logged in, to access the online application and payment form.

Exhibition Visit – The British Museum: Thomas Becket: Murder and the Making of a Saint

On 29 December 1170, Becket was assassinated in Canterbury Cathedral by four knights with close ties to King Henry II, an act that left Medieval Europe reeling. Becket was one of the most powerful figures of his time, serving as royal chancellor and later as Archbishop of Canterbury.

Marking the 850th anniversary of his brutal murder, this special exhibition presents Becket's tumultuous journey from a merchant's son to an archbishop, and from a revered saint in death to a 'traitor' in the eyes of Henry VIII more than 350 years later.

Online application and payment is available for this event. To apply and pay online you will first need to register if you haven't done so already. Once the Administrator has approved your registration, you will be able to log in and access the online application/payment. You will only need to register once, and for any applications for subsequent events you will need only to log in.

Click here, once you have logged in, to access the online application and payment form.

A Sion College Visit to the Old Royal Naval College

The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich boasts one of the most spectacular Baroque interiors in Europe, sometimes referred to as ‘Britain’s Sistine Chapel’. The incredible ceiling and wall decorations were conceived and executed by British artist Sir James Thornhill.

Sion College has organised a private guided tour of the Painted Hall, followed by Evening Prayer in the Chapel at the Old Royal Naval College.

We shall then adjourn for supper to the Trafalgar Tavern, located just a few minutes’ walk away from the Old Royal Naval College.

Online application and payment is available for this event. To apply and pay online you will first need to register if you haven't done so already. Once the Administrator has approved your registration, you will be able to log in and access the online application/payment. You will only need to register once, and for any applications for subsequent events you will need only to log in.

Click here, once you have logged in, to access the online application and payment form.

Edward King, Bishop of Lincoln - A Sion College Seminar Supper with Michael Marshall

Michael Marshall, Hon. Assistant Bishop in London, was the 8th Bishop of Woolwich.  He was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge and trained for the priesthood at Cuddesdon Theological Oxford, being ordained in 1960. His long and impressive career in the Anglican church has seen him hold a variety of posts around the world, from Founding Director of the Anglican Institute in St Louis, Missouri to advisor on Evangelism to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. Before his retirement in 2007 Bishop Michael was Rector of Holy Trinity Sloane Street (1997–2007). A prolific author, Bishop Michael’s most recent book is Edward King, Teacher, Pastor, Bishop Saint. Those attending this event are invited to order copies of this book at a reduced price of £25 (RRP £35).

The venue for this seminar supper will be the magnificent Apothecaries Hall in the City of London, last visited by Sion College for the Annual Feast in 2015.

Online application and payment is available for this event. To apply and pay online you will first need to register if you haven't done so already. Once the Administrator has approved your registration, you will be able to log in and access the online application/payment. You will only need to register once, and for any applications for subsequent events you will need only to log in.

Click here, once you have logged in, to access the online application and payment form.

From The President: The Reverend Prebendary Jeremy Crossley to All Fellows of Sion College

The Fellows’ Dinner

Lambeth Palace Library, 15 Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7JT

Thursday 30th September, 2021, 7.00 for 7.45pm

On behalf of the Court of Governors of Sion College, it is my great pleasure to invite you to this year’s Fellows’ Dinner, celebrating our life as a collegiate body of priests as we continue to live out the vision of our founder the Reverend Dr Thomas White. The Fellows’ Dinner gives us an opportunity to mark our history, celebrate our fellowship and to launch our programme for the coming year. It has been some years since we were able to hold what used to be an annual event and the Court is looking forward enormously to welcoming you to this evening.

I am delighted that our after-dinner speaker on this occasion will be Sir Simon Jenkins. After graduating from Oxford, Sir Simon had a distinguished career as a journalist which included editing the Evening Standard and The Times as well as being the Political editor of the Economist. Since leaving The Times he has been prolific as an author and commentator as well as serving on the boards of various public bodies and as Chairman of the National Trust. Probably all of us will own at least one of his books.

Naturally, I hope you will be able to join us at Lambeth Palace Library on this occasion, where for the first time we will be able to see the newly opened Library containing our historic collection and enjoy drinks and dinner there. After the last eighteen months, every opportunity to meet in person will be a great treat and I look forward to welcoming you to Lambeth for a lively celebration of Sion College.

Best wishes,

Jeremy Crossley

President, Sion College, 2021-22

Online application and payment is available for this event. To apply and pay online you will first need to register if you haven't done so already. Once the Administrator has approved your registration, you will be able to log in and access the online application/payment. You will only need to register once, and for any applications for subsequent events you will need only to log in.

Click here, once you have logged in, to access the online application and payment form.

Behind The Times - A Sion College Seminar Supper with Michael Binyon

Michael Binyon has been an editorial writer, columnist and foreign correspondent for The Times since 1971, following stints with the TES, THES and the BBC. For 15 years he was based overseas, reporting from Moscow, Washington, Bonn and Brussels before returning to London as diplomatic editor in 1991 and becoming chief foreign leader writer (editorials) in 2000.

Michael will look at how a national newspaper works. What is news and how should it be treated? How do journalists get their stories? What disasters, mishaps and funny things happen along the way? He will discuss reporting news from overseas, how readers influence the paper and what it is like to work for Rupert Murdoch.

The venue for this seminar supper will be the Savile Club in Mayfair.

Online application and payment is available for this event. To apply and pay online you will first need to register if you haven't done so already. Once the Administrator has approved your registration, you will be able to log in and access the online application/payment. You will only need to register once, and for any applications for subsequent events you will need only to log in.

Click here, once you have logged in, to access the online application and payment form.