BRIEF GUILD HISTORY

Just before the start of the 1914 - 1918 war, recruitment into the Metropolitan Police greatly increased, and for some unknown reason many of those recruited were Irishmen, and a large proportion of them were Catholics. They began to meet each other at Mass on Sundays and it was not long before their small band increased in numbers, they decided to get together on a social basis and met in their homes and in public houses. As their numbers increased they sought a permanent meeting place, they eventually found a backroom of a house in Clapham, South London.

As a result of one such meeting it was decided that they should approach the Administrator at Westminster Cathedral who at that time was Monsignor Howlett, and asked for his approval for the formation of a Catholic Police Guild. Monsignor Howlett wholeheartedly welcomed this suggestion and not only agreed with the idea but also agreed without hesitation when asked to become their President.

Delighted with the outcome of their meeting with Monsignor Howlett they returned to report their success at the next meeting and arranged a date for the inauguration of such a Guild. It was agreed that the inauguration ceremony should take place at Westminster Cathedral, and so on June 11, 1914, on the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Metropolitan and City Catholic Police Guild was officially instituted at Westminster Cathedral. The Celebrant at the Inauguration Mass was Monsignor Howlett.

The Guild then met to draw up the Constitution and Rules. The Object of the Guild was the encouragement of the spiritual and social welfare of its members. Membership was limited to Catholic serving police officers of the Metropolitan and City Forces.

It is known that meetings were held frequently and membership steadily increased during the First World War years but unfortunately records of those years seem to be non-existent. In 1918 at the end of the First World War, the Guild agreed to hold a Solemn Requiem Mass in Westminster Cathedral to remember and honour those Guild members who died during that war and this Solemn Requiem Mass has since been a main annual spiritual event in the Guild calendar. The Mass is held on a suitable date as near to Armistice Day as possible. As time marched on the Guild flourished, its membership continued to grow.

With the tragic declaration of World War Two many policemen, including a large number of Guild members left the Force to serve with the Armed Forces. At the end of the Second World War it became necessary to amend the Constitution and Rules to include those members who lost their lives in the Second World War.

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From then onwards the Solemn Service was enhanced by the attendance of the Metropolitan Police Band. Guild members paraded in the grounds at the rear of the Cathedral, 500 or more strong they marched behind the band down Ambrosenden Avenue and into the Cathedral, a very impressive sight indeed, watched by hundreds of spectators. To add to the dignity of the occasion the Cathedral Choir sang the Mass. Afterwards the parade formed up again and led by the band, marched past the main doors of the Cathedral steps. In 1967 the Constitution and Rules were again changed as it was considered that the Annual Requiem Mass should be offered for all deceased police officers, that is of any denomination.

Since the early 1960’s for some unknown reason the membership began to decrease from 600/700 to around 200/300. Although this tragic trend seemed to affect Guilds throughout the Catholic Church, it certainly became a grave source of concern to the Guild. This decrease in numbers of members who attended reached pathetically below the hundred. This was made more prominent by the attendance of the Band, who appeared to be in greater number and so, to save embarrassment it was decided reluctantly that the Parade would have to be discontinued.

In 1969 this service was held by those members who wished to attend, making their own way into the Cathedral and occupying the front seats reserved for them – with no parade. The Annual event for all deceased colleagues one would have thought, would have been attended by every Catholic policeman in the Force, but alas this was not so. However, in 1971 the service was greatly enhanced by the Metropolitan Police Trumpeters giving the triumph that is so fitting at the Consecration of the Mass. In more recent years it has been most gratifying to note the great increase in attendance. I have given a lot of emphasis to the Annual Requiem because it is the most important spiritual event in the Guild’s calendar and it is vital that it will always remain that way – the annual opportunity for every Catholic Policeman to remember, and to pray together for their deceased colleagues.

Ever since the inauguration of the Guild, its members, families and friends have assembled in the Crypt at Westminster Cathedral for Holy Mass annually on the Feats of Corpus Christi, to commemorate its founding on that great day. This service is always followed by a social get together at a suitable venue after Mass. There have been many outstanding events in the Guild’s history, but I think two of the most important were the Pilgrimages to Rome. The first such event took place fifty years ago this year, on the 3rd to 15th October 1927, about 80 members and friends took part in this great adventure. The contingent was led by the Rt. Rev. Monsignor Howlett. During this most memorable spiritual highlight, an audience with Pope Pius XI was arranged and all the members who attended had the honour of meeting His Holiness. After his touching address, the Pope was handed on behalf of the Guild, a hundred guineas, 80 for Peter’s Pence and 20 as a stipend for Mass on behalf of members and their families. The arrangements for this unforgettable pilgrimage were made by the Guild Secretary – Sub Divisional Inspector Albert Groom (RIP).