On 1 July 1930, during Evensong in Winchester Cathedral, the flags of the Merchant Navy and the missions to Seamen were received by the Bishop of Winchester, the Right Reverend F T Woods DD, who dedicated them to the Glory of God, and retained them for safe keeping in the Cathedral.
Since that Service of Dedication, by permission of the Dean and Chapter of Winchester, the Southampton Master Mariners’ Club has organised a Service each year, apart from a break during the Second World War.
In 2022, following a two year break due to the Coronovirus pandemic, the Service was moved to St. Michael’s Church in Southampton.
The Festival Service celebrates and gives thanks to God for the continuing prosperity of the Shipping Industry in our Region, and for the dedication of all who serve in it and contribute to it, and in particular the seafarers whose home is the sea and who face its many dangers.
THE SHIPPING FESTIVAL SERVICE, 2023
St. Michael’s Church
Southampton
Thursday 8th June 2023
1900
The service was attended by the Lord- Lieutenant of Hampshire, the Mayor of Southampton and other guests from the maritime world.
The preacher was Bishop Geoff Annas, retired Bishop of Stafford and Honorary Assistant Bishop inthe Winchester Diocese
The City of Southampton (Albion) Band took part in the Service.
There was a parade of flags outside prior to the service.
There was an informal post service reception in St. Jacob’s Hall in the adjacent Stella Maris building to which all members of the congregation were invited.
THE SHIPPING FESTIVAL SERVICE, 2022
St. Michael’s Church
Southampton
Thursday 9th June 2022
1900
The service was attended by the Lord- Lieutenant of Hampshire, the Mayor of Southampton and other guests from the maritime world.
The preacher was the Rt Rev David Williams, The Bishop of Basingstoke and Trustee of the Mission to Seafarers
The City of Southampton (Albion) Band took part in the Service.
THE SHIPPING FESTIVAL SERVICES
Which were due to be held at
WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL
on Thursday 4th June 2020
and in June 2021
were both CANCELLED
THE SHIPPING FESTIVAL SERVICE
WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL
Thursday 13 June 2019
The service was attended by the Lord- Lieutenant of Hampshire, the Mayors of Winchester and Southampton and other dignitaries.
The preacher was
The Rev’d Canon Peter Salisbury
Vicar of Church of St. Thomas, Lymington
Hon. Canon of Winchester Cathedral
The City of Southampton (Albion) Band took part in the Service.
Proceeds from the collection taken during the service will be divided equally between Southampton Seafarers Charities and Winchester Cathedral.
After the Service members of the Congregation were invited to the West End of the Cathedral where refreshments were available and the Albion Band continued to entertain.
Everyone is welcome to attend this historic service which next year will take place on Thursday 11th June
THE SHIPPING FESTIVAL SERVICE 2018
The service was attended by the Lord- Lieutenant of Hampshire, the Mayors of Winchester and Southampton and other dignitaries.
The preacher was
The Very Rev’d Catherine Ogle
Dean of Winchester Cathedral
The Southampton Albion Band took part in the Service.
Proceeds from the collection taken during the service were divided equally between Southampton Seafarers Charities and Winchester Cathedral.
After the Service members of the Congregation were invited to the South Garden where refreshments wwere available and the Southampton Albion Band continued to entertain.
You don’t have to be connected to seafaring or shipping to
attend the Service which next year will take place in Winchester Cathedral at 1930 on
Thursday 13th June. (7.15 pm for 7.30 pm).
THE SHIPPING FESTIVAL SERVICE 2017
The Service was attended by the Lord- Lieutenant of Hampshire, the Mayor of Winchester and other dignitaries.
The preacher was
The Rt Rev’d Christopher Foster
Bishop of Portsmouth
The Southampton Albion Band took part in the Service.
Proceeds from the collection taken during the service were divided equally between Southampton Seafarers Charities and Winchester Cathedral.
Due to building works and refurbishment the Deanery Garden was not available and the post service refreshments were taken just inside the West Door.
THE SHIPPING FESTIVAL SERVICE 2016
In 2016 the Service reflected upon and marked the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Jutland, in which 6094 men were killed, and the loss of HMS Hampshire with the loss of 643 lives plus Lord Kitchener and his staff.
At the commencement of the service, Past captain Lionel Hall struck seven bells on the bell of Lord Jellicoe’s flagship, HMS Iron Duke.
During the service two candles were lit beside the bell, by Club Captain Leslie Morris and fellow Cachalot Lt. Cmdr Andrew Jones RNR.
Photography is not permitted at and during Cathedral services but because of the special nature of this year’s service we were exceptionally granted special permission by the Dean and Chapter.
The preacher was the Rev’d Reg Sweet, Master of St. Cross.
The service was sung by the Boy Choristers and Lay Clerks of Winchester Cathedral Choir and the Southampton Albion Band also took part.
As is usual, after the Service members of the congregation were invited to the Deanery Garden where refreshments were available.
Captain Morris took the opportunity to surprise the retiring Dean, the Very Reverend James Atwell, and present him with Honorary Membership of The Cachalots.
Members can view more pictures of the event in the Gallery section of the Members’ pages.
Thursday 12th June 2014
Geoff Matthews was again Marshal of Parade and the Colour Party and the Flag Party were inspected by Rear Admiral Iain Henderson, Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire.
The Marshal then led the Parties through the West Door to join the Procession.
The Preacher was the Right Reverend Jonathan Frost, Bishop of Southampton.
Thursday 13th June 2013
In 2013 we were honoured and pleased to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, who is a Stowaway of the Club, to the Shipping Festival Service.
On her arrival HRH was received by the Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Dame Mary Fagan, and introduced to the High Sheriff of Hampshire, Rupert Younger, the Mayors of Winchester and Southampton and to the Club Captain, John Noble.
Captain Noble then invited HRH to inspect the Colour Party and introduced the Parade Marshall, Mr Geoff Matthews.
The Colour Party, drawn from HMS King Alfred, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, HM Coastguard, Warsash Maritime Academy and the Royal Logistic Corps, carried the White Ensign, the Red Ensign, the Blue Ensign of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and HM Coastguard, and the Army Ensign worn by Her Majesty’s Army vessels. The Branch Standard Bearers of the Royal Naval 
Association, the Royal Marines Association and the Merchant Navy Association carried their Standards. Cadets from the Southampton, Winchester and Portsmouth units of the Sea Cadets Corps carried the flags of the Mission to Seafarers, the Apostleship of the Sea and the Sailors’ Society. They also carried the flags of Shipping Companies and Organisations 
associated with Southampton, and formed a Guard of Honour at the West Door.
At the West Door the Lord-Lieutenant presented the Bishop of Southampton, The Right Reverend Jonathan Frost and the Dean of Winchester, The Very Reverend James Atwell and Mrs Atwell. The Dean then presented members of Chapter and Clergy.
The Clergy, Distinguished Guests and the Royal Party then proceeded along the Nave, followed by the Parade Marshall leading the Colour, Standard and Flag Parties.
After the Procession the Dean received the National Ensigns and welcomed the congregation. The lesson, John 21.1-14, was read by HRH The Princess Royal and the address was given by the Bishop of Southampton.
The Band of The City of Southampton (Albion) Band, under the direction of Nick Dawson, took part in the Service.
Proceeds from the collection taken during the service are to be divided equally between the Southampton Seafarers’ Centre and Winchester Cathedral.
After the Service, refreshments were served in the Cathedral Visitors Centre and selected groups of guests were presented to HRH. Following which HRH was herself presented with her Cachalot Stowaway Brooch by Club Captain John Noble and with a posy of flowers by Cadet Petty Officer Zoe Becket of the Southampton Sea Cadets.
The Shipping Festival Service, 2012
2012 marked 30 years since the Falklands War and 100 years since the Titanic disaster, which respectively reminded us of our dependency on our maritime capability, of the constant risks for ships at sea and of the skill and alertness demanded of our seafarers.
The preacher was The Venerable Martin Poll QHC, Archdeacon for the Royal Navy. Captain John Noble, Staff Captain of the Southampton Master Mariners’ Club, read the Lesson. The City of Southampton (Albion)Band, under the direction of Nick Dawson, took part in the service.
A Colour Party drawn from HMS King Alfred, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, HM Coastguard and the Warsash Maritime Academy carried the White Ensign, the Red Ensign, the Blue Ensign of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and HM Coastguard, and the Army Ensign worn by Her Majesty’s Army vessels. The Branch Standard Bearers of the Royal Naval Association, the Association of WRNS, the Royal Marines Association and the Merchant Navy Association carried their Standards. Cadets from the Southampton, Winchester and Portsmouth units of the Sea Cadet Corps carried the flags of the Mission to Seafarers, the Apostleship of the Sea and the Sailors’ Society. They also carried the flags of Shipping Companies and Organisations associated with Southampton, and formed a Guard of Honour inside the West Door.
On arrival, Dame Mary Fagan, Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, and Captain C Fagan were met by Staff Captain John Noble and, because of the bad weather, were escorted inside the Cathedral where they inspected the Guard of Honour before being received by the Dean and Chapter.
Dame Mary Fagan inspects the Flag Parties, accompanied by the Parade Marshall. Staff Captain Noble in attendance.
They were then joined by the clergy and other dignitaries, who included the High Sheriff of Hampshire, the Deputy Mayor of Winchester, the Mayor of Southampton and the Commodore of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, in the Procession up the Nave.
At the East End of the Nave the Very Reverend James Atwell, Dean of Winchester, received the National Ensigns.
After the Service, the Congregation were invited to continue to enjoy hearing the band playing and partake of wine and canapes in the North Transept, the weather being too inclement to enjoy these in the Deanery Garden.
Proceeds from the collection taken during the service are customarily divided equally between Winchester Catherdal and the Southampton Seafarers’ Centre, and donations made by local Companies and individuals are acknowledged in the following year’s Order of Service.
The Cachalots acknowledge with gratitude the generous donations made in the year 2012 by the following:
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ASSOCIATED BRITISH PORTS – SOUTHAMPTON BLUE FUNNEL CRUISES BP OIL UK LTD CAPTAIN G B ANGAS CAPTAIN J M M NOBLE JOHN H WHITAKER TANKERS LTD OIL SPILL RESPONSE LTD R B WOODS |
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ALL ARE WELCOME
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