A nursing organisation with close ties to the City of London has passed another key milestone in its history since being created nearly a decade ago by a group of nurses who trained in the capital.
The Worshipful Company of Nurses is one of more than 100 livery companies in London that are trade associations with origins dating back to medieval guilds.
“This is an historic occasion for the company and a significant landmark for nursing and nurses everywhere”
Hilary Andrews
Other examples include the Worshipful Company of Woolmen, Worshipful Company of Brewers, Worshipful Society of Apothecaries and, the oldest, the Worshipful Company of Weavers.
Founded in 2016 by a group of nurses who trained at St Bartholomew’s Hospital school of nursing, the company has since then met a number of ceremonial requirements in order to boost its status.
The latest was the official presentation of so-called letters patent on Wednesday, which it said marked a “significant milestone” in the company’s history.
Letters patent are formal legal documents that grant specific rights, privileges and titles, noted the company in a statement, officially sealing the organisation’s establishment as a livery company.
They represent a prestigious legal instrument to signify the establishment of the organisation as city livery company number 111, with its core purposes of education, friendship and charitable giving.
The hand-written document, which is validated with the Lord Mayor of London’s seal, features calligraphy and other decoration.
It was presented by the Lord Mayor at a special meeting of the Court of Aldermen on 2 July, which was attended by members of the company and its supporters.
The company said the ceremony was a landmark moment for both the City of London and for nurses and the nursing profession.
Speaking about the presentation, Hilary Andrews, the current master of the Worshipful Company of Nurses, said: “Today is a red-letter day for the whole company.
“The company is indebted to the Court of Aldermen for recognising that there was scope within the City of London for a new livery company representing one of the oldest professions, and one of the 10 largest professional workforces in the UK.
“It is the culmination of over nine years of enthusiasm, hard work and determination from our membership, our committees and the court and led by the eight company founders who had the vision to make this work,” she said.
“This is an historic occasion for the company and a significant landmark for nursing and nurses everywhere,” she added.
Sponsoring alderman Sir Andrew Parmley said: “I am immensely proud of all that the Worshipful Company of Nurses has achieved to date.
“To be granted recognition as a livery company demonstrates the confidence the Court of Aldermen, the city and the city’s family of livery companies have in the nurses and is richly deserved.
“The founders wanted to ensure that the company was accessible to all nurses past, present and future and it has at its heart education, benevolence and friendship.
“I am delighted that the nurses have reached this historic milestone which is indicative of the high regard in which the nursing profession is held not only in the City of London, but throughout the UK.”
The membership organisation was originally founded in 2016 as the Guild of Nurses, before being recognised as a Company without Livery in 2020.
The Court of Aldermen of the City of London approved its submission to become the Worshipful Company of Nurses in 2023.
As a result, it joined the other 110 livery companies, the oldest of which dates back to the 12th century and takes its place as number 111 in order of precedence.
The company is open to all nurses at every stage of their career from all specialties, including students and those no longer on the register.
As a city livery company, its members have the opportunity to take part in a range of traditions and pageantry in the capital, such as the annual sheep drive across London Bridge.
As well as organising events, the company gives bursaries and grants for professional education, awards prizes for nursing excellence and provides benevolent support to nurses in financial need.
Related articles on the company
