A special church service, the annual Justice Service for the County of Essex, was held in Saffron Walden on Sunday, instead of the usual venue of Chelmsford Cathedral.
Lorna Rolfe JP, this year’s High Sheriff of Essex, (and wife of Howard Rolfe, leader of Uttlesford District Council) chose St Mary’s Church because she said: “I felt this cathedral-like church should be shared with the rest of the county.”
After processions by dignitaries into the church, the service included a special arrangement of psalm 121 “I to the hills will lift mine eyes” by Saffron Walden composer, Janet Wheeler.
The music was conducted by St Mary’s Church Choir. The organ was played by Jeremy Allen and the two trumpeters were music teacher Kate Goatman and Tommy Villiers a pupil at Saffron Walden County High School. The service was led by the Reverend Canon David Tomlinson and the sermon was given by the Very Reverend Dr John Cairns, former Moderator of the Church of Scotland.
The High Sheriff’s role was originally a legal office, dating back over 1,000 years. Since 1258, the appointment has been for one year only.
Henry II (who reigned from 1133 to 1189) ruled that professional judges should visit the provinces from London. Before that, justice was administered by locals.
The crown then appointed a high sheriff of each county to look after the London judge while he was visiting the county to preside over the assize court.
In Essex, a high court judge would visit the assize three times a year. In 1972, the assize was replaced by the crown court, which sits permanently all year round.
In Essex, the tradition developed that before sitting in court on the first day of the assize, the high court judge would go to Chelmsford Cathedral with the high sheriff, judges and barristers and court officials to pray for wisdom and humility to help them conduct trials.
Part of the Essex High Sheriff’s role today is to use the High Sheriff’s Fund to support volunteer work in the community. To date, the fund has given out over 500 grants, totally more than £450,000. The recipients have included initiatives for homeless people, refugees, projects giving people alcohol and drug advice and to combat banking and internet fraud for those who are elderly or vulnerable.
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