Master's Sponsored Pilgrimage

On 14-15 April, the Master, Beadle, Clerk and several volunteers from Shepherd Neame will be walking 58 miles of the Pilgrims Way to Canterbury to the shrine of our Patron Saint Thomas Becket to kick start a new philanthropic initiative.

The Master is hoping to raise funds for the Brewers’ Company General Charitable Trust by inviting people to sponsor his efforts. Members can make a donation online through our Members Area at https://members.brewershall.co.uk/donations, non-Members can donate at https://donate.stripe.com/7sI7ukawJ0s93vi6oo.

Brewers and Becket

Thomas Becket is the Patron Saint of the Brewers’ Company. A Londoner himself, in his lifetime he had strong links with the City and had, indeed, been a noted drinker in his youth! The connection with the Brewers’ Company, however, likely stems from after his martyrdom when many pilgrims made their way to his shrine in Canterbury, drinking many gallons of ale along the way, thus earning the undying gratitude of the Brewers. The Company’s first coat of arms included Becket’s arms and was only changed after the Reformation, when the Catholic Saint fell out of favour. The new (and current) coat of arms features a more oblique reference to Becket in the figure of the Moorish Maiden.

Stained Glass Window

We are delighted that the Master, Jonathan Neame, will be presenting the Brewers’ Company with a stained glass window featuring our original and current coats of arms. The window, which celebrates the Company’s connection to Saint Thomas Becket was commissioned from the glazers at Canterbury Cathedral, the site of his martyrdom and the destination for all of the thirsty pilgrims. It will be received by the Master from the Cathedral at the end of the sponsored Brewers’ Pilgrimage in April and presented to the Company at a future event.

The Brewers’ Company General Charitable Trust (BCGCT)

Funds from the BCGCT are used for general charitable purposes as determined by the Court. In recent years it has funded Brewers’ Bursaries at Aldenham School and a broad range of charities such as Pub is the Hub, No Going Back (helping those leaving prison), the National Brewery Heritage Trust, the Royal British Legion, various military / veteran’s charities, and charities supporting the homeless, amongst others. The BCGCT also supports the Company’s military affiliations providing funds which would not otherwise be obtained for the welfare of sailors, troops and their families. It also supports the Company’s Air Training Corps unit in Islington. Finally, it funds awards for those studying brewing at IBD and at Herriot Watt university.

The Brewers’ Company is enormously grateful everyone who supports its work. Liverymen in particular give so much to the Company, not simply through quarterage which supports the very existence of an organisation that manages charities that would not otherwise exist, but also in the huge amount of time voluntarily given to support events, committees, schools and other charitable work.