The Anniversary Meeting of the Charity Children in the Cathedral Church of St Paul

This engraving is derived from a watercolour by Robert Havell junior and depicts the annual service which was held in St Paul’s Cathedral attended by the children of the charity schools in London. The service was widely reported in London newspapers as being an unrivalled spectacle at which an estimated eight thousand children of both sexes attended. The service was an opportunity for the public to donate money for the upkeep of the Charity Schools.It was followed in the evening by a grand dinner for patrons and subscribers which was also designed to raise funds.

Robert Havell 1769-1832 is not to be confused with his son Robert Havell Junior 1793-1878, both of whom were engravers and etchers. Robert Havell senior was the proprietor of a printing and engraving shop Havell &Son which also produced this engraving.