The earliest City of London Guilds were religious fraternities as well as trade bodies, and, when the Company of Entrepreneurs was founded (as the Guild of Entrepreneurs) in 2014, one of the earliest offices that it aspired to fill was that of Honorary Chaplain.
 
As it continues its journey towards becoming a Worshipful Company of Entrepreneurs, the Master Entrepreneur, Mrs Judy Hadden, was pleased to swear-in the newest incumbent of that office at a special ceremony at Goldsmiths’ Hall on Thursday 24th November.
 
The Reverend Sophia Acland is a priest in the Church of England, and is the Associate Vicar at the City church of All Hallows’ by the Tower. She was a colleague of the Entrepreneurs’ first Chaplain, and has given enormous support to the Company over the last 8 years.
 
The Master presented Sophia with her badge of office, which she proudly wore at the Installation Service of Thanksgiving at St Vedast’s church just a short while later.

 

 

 
NOTES: Traditionally, Livery Companies support or are formally affiliated with one or more of the City’s ancient parishes. In keeping with this tradition, the Company of Entrepreneurs has an affiliation with one of the City churches (St Lawrence Jewry), and appoints one of the City’s clergy as its Honorary Chaplain.
 
The Honorary Chaplain to the Company of Entrepreneurs holds office at the Court's pleasure or until resignation. The Ordinances of the Company provide that the Honorary Chaplain shall “provide such pastoral and liturgical support as the Court may require”. Practically, this involves the assisting in the organisation of three church services each year, as well as advising on issues involving the City’s churches and clergy as they arise.
 
The Entrepreneurs’ first Chaplain was the Reverend (now the Very Reverend) Bertrand Olivier, Vicar of All Hallows’ by the Tower. The second Chaplain was the Reverend Canon David Parrott, Vicar of St Lawrence Jewry next Guildhall.
 
Freemen of any faith and none are made very welcome at the Company of Entrepreneurs, and, since 2020, the Ordinances have provided for the appointment of “any suitable person” (who may be a religious, non-religious, or community leader) as the Master’s Chaplain.
 
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Sophia is Associate Vicar at All Hallows by the Tower with special responsibility for weekday ministry.  At All Hallows she has been involved in work on financial inclusion, homelessness and a number of community arts projects aimed at drawing local people together. She is also an Area Lead on Creation Care for the City and Westminster, promoting the environmental agenda to other churches. She is a Freeman of the City of London and is interested in City traditions and architecture.
 
After reading History at Oxford Sophia worked as a commissioning editor in book publishing and later spent ten years jointly running a manufacturing company.  She is a trustee of her local Foodbank and has served as a church organist and a volunteer with various charities.  She also helps out in four churches in Gloucestershire at weekends.