Posted on 11th Jul
The annual service of celebration and investiture of the King Offa Commandery of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem was held at St Mary’s Church, Newark.
The order is an international ecumenical order of chivalry whose history goes back to the time of the crusades in the Holy Land.
Its traditional humanitarian work is around the eradication of Hansen’s disease (leprosy), but it now also assists those on the fringe of society in need, and regularly supports The Leprosy Mission, the Nepal Leprosy Trust, LEPRA, Emmanuel House in Nottingham, and the DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee).
The commander, Chevalier Mario Rizzardi, and the chancellor, Chevalier John Bullock, led the order in Newark.
The service was led by the Rev Susan Caddy, with a sermon from the Rev Justin Trevelyan Parker, and also the Rev Colin McAulay.
In attendance was Liell Francklin, Deputy Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire. Other civic dignitaries included Newark mayor Coun Diane Ledger and Coun Paul Grafton, vice-chair of Ashfield District Council.
Dr David Woolf, bailiff of England and Wales and a senior officer of the order, highlighting the contribution the Commandery of King Offa had given to the order.
The order also honours people outside the organisation who have made significant support and soprano Rebecca Temple and Henrietta Chubb, the former High Sherriff of Leicestershire, were appointed to the Companionate of Merit of the Order.
After the church service, the Commander, Mario Rizzardi, presented a donation of £500 to Guy Willcock, of the Leprosy Mission.
