Thanksgiving Day Service at St. Paul's Cathedral
Dear Sir or Madam:
It is my pleasure to inform you that St. Paul’s Cathedral will graciously host a Thanksgiving Day service at 11:00 am on Thursday, November 26, 2009, to commemorate this American holiday.
President Lincoln formally established Thanksgiving as an American civic holiday in 1863 as a way of reminding the American people of their many blessings. The Thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s has become a tradition in London among American visitors, expatriates, and their British friends.
The service will include a Thanksgiving message, hymns, presentation of the colors, and a reading of President Obama’s Thanksgiving proclamation. I ask you to share this information with your colleagues and friends, and I invite you all to join Marjorie and me at St. Paul’s Cathedral Thanksgiving Day service.
Sincerely,
Louis B. Susman
Ambassador
*Please note: as a security measure, attendees will be required to pass through a metal detector, and all bags will be searched. Tickets are not required for this event.
**Doors open at 9:45 am; guests should plan to arrive no later than 10:30am.
Click here to see the original signed letter from Ambassador Susman.
Click here for a printable flyer to distribute.
More information: No tickets are needed for the Thanksgiving Day Service this year, but each person may be required to pass through a metal detector and have bags searched. Please therefore bring minimal baggage and remove any metal objects from pockets prior to being checked. Given the high level of security, it is important to arrive at the Cathedral early. Photography in the Cathedral is not permitted. Mobile phones should be switched off.
I look forward to joining my fellow Americans in London in giving Thanks to God for Our Nation, Creation and Preservation.
Thank you for the excellent service. And thank you Ambassador for your remarks and the reading out of the Presidential Proclamation. I also appreciated the message offered by the minister from the American Church in London. So good to see so many out to offer their thanksgiving.
Several years ago when we were living in London, we attended this wonderful service. We were so proud to be American – and to possess a faith that has meant so much to us. It was a beautiful service. And we thank St Paul’s and the US Embassy for this.