ALAN WARREN GRACE
Some years ago now, I said Grace before a sportsmen’s dinner in Leicester when I was then the Provost (Dean) of the Cathedral. There was some laughter and applause when the Grace finished but on the way out after the dinner, a man came up to me and said ‘that was disgraceful, a church leader like you making fun of a prayer.’ He totally misunderstood my motive which was to stop the diners in their tracks for a few seconds and then, hopefully, for them to listen and then thank God for their food in a world where so many are tragically hungry. In my experience, traditional Graces just wash over folks’ heads. The original Alleyn Club Grace was written in 1991 including reference to the avenue of chestnut trees but with their recent removal I have taken the opportunity to include the school’s distinctive blue black ties.
I am pleased and humbled that my Dulwich Grace has been used so widely, even overseas, at OA functions and pray this will continue in its slightly revised form.
An Alleyn Club Grace For Alleyn’s gift and heritage Of staff and pupils, age to age; For memories’ span of youthful times With blue – black ties and clocktower chimes;
For food and friends on Dulwich days To God we give our thanks and praise Amen
The Very Reverend Alan Warren (43-50) President 1991-1992
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