Historic Service for the Administration of Justice!

This is a very important date for the new City of Wolverhampton, and a notable ''first'' for the City. On Sunday the 10th April at 3.00pm the Judiciary in Procession paraded across the City Square then entered for a service in St Peters Church.

The Church Service took place after being organised by the High Sheriff of the County of West Midlands Mr John Andrews MBE and the team Rector of St Peters David Frith.

The service started at 3 p.m. Immediately before this time a procession made its way from St Peter's House in Exchange Street comprising of a High Court Judge, Wolverhampton Circuit and District Judges, Coroner, University representatives, and the Mayor , Deputy Mayor and Bishop of Wolverhampton.

Also invited and took part were many others who make the systems of justice work on behalf of us all: magistrates, probation officers, court staff, police, voluntary organisations (e.g. NACRO, Neighbourhood Watch), where all invited and were in attendance. The deputy Lord Lieutenant Of the West Midlands County Rachel Heyhoe-Flint also attended.

The purpose of the event was to give thanks to God for the work that all these people do for us (and to the great benefit of our society), as well as to express our support for them and to pray for them.

The service lasted for just under an hour, representatives of the City's faith communities also attended, they always are invited to such services in our wonderfully diverse City. The Bishop of Wolverhampton gave the blessing.

Councillor Phil Bateman said " The High Sheriff of the West Midlands County has worked very hard to see this event take place. The fact is that he has been very successful in arranging for a High Court Judge to lead the service emphasises the importance of the event to the Judiciary.

I for my part hail the High Sheriff for this initiative and I hope that his successor will also make the same arrangements so that this date becomes an integral ceremony for Britain's newest City.

The service was a very good one and the splash of colour provided by the Judges in their red and purple gowns were not only very colourful, but they were very much welcome here in the City of Wolverhampton. The Mayor made those same comments after the service and we now hope to see this event very much added to the calendar of events that this City already holds.

See some of the photo's of every one getting ready for the event in St Peters House."