High Sheriff of Bedfordshire's Justice Service

On 28th September, St Paul's welcomed the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, the King's Remembrancer, members of the judiciary and other distinguished guests to the the annual High Sheriff's Justice service to pray for those who administer the law in this county.

Our preacher, the The Right Reverend Richard Atkinson, OBE, Bishop of Bedford and Acting Bishop of St Albans preached on the parable of the Good Samaritan. We were pleased to be joined by a choir made up of representatives from churches across Bedford Borough, directed by our organist Adam Wright, as well as Bedford Town Band, and a choir from Great Ouse Primary School.

The High Sheriff of Bedfordshire is the sovereign representative in the county for all matters relating to the judiciary and the maintenance of law and order. High Sheriffs are responsible for duties conferred by the Crown through the warrant from the Privy Council which include ensuring the well-being and protection of High Court Judges on circuit, attending royal visits to the county, acting as Returning Officer for Parliamentary elections in the county constituencies, proclaiming the session of a new Sovereign, and maintaining the loyalty of subjects to the Crown, together with a number of other ceremonial functions.

We come before God today to give thanks for our system of law and order. We pray for The King, the High Court of Parliament, His Majesty’s Justices, the High Sheriff, all who administer the law that they may humbly execute justice with equity and compassion.

We pray for those who serve our community through the work of voluntary organisations and we commit ourselves to the service of a fair and just society.  

And we pray for ourselves and all who make up the communities of our county of Bedfordshire, that we may lead lives of love, joy, peace and mutual respect.

Thank you to June Essex for these pictures of the service