MORE than 1,500 pupils and staff marked a 'momentous day' in Monmouth School's history by heading to St Paul's Cathedral to celebrate its founding exactly four centuries ago to the day.

A convoy of 32 coaches headed across the Severn Bridge to London for a service of thanksgiving to mark the foundation of one of the country's oldest schools by Wye Valley-born merchant William Jones in 1614, with a bequest left to the stewardship of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers.

Monmouth School headmaster Dr Steven Connors said: "It was a truly memorable service, 400 years to the day (19th March) when King James 1 signed the Letters Patent to found the school.

"It's a momentous day in our history. No one will ever forget the sound of the school choir and organ reverberating around Wren's stunningly beautiful baroque cathedral, or hearing The Right Reverend Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark, deliver the Golden Lecture, which was also founded 400 years ago as part of William Jones's legacy.

"The choir performed beautifully in a truly inspiring environment under the Dome. Everyone involved felt a real sense of privilege to be part of this service".

It was also a special day for Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls prep pupil Sky Ballentyne, 11, who read a prayer to the 2,200-strong congregation that also included Haberdashers, governors, clergy, past pupils and parents.

The convoy carrying pupils aged seven to 18 from Monmouth School, its sister school and their prep schools, The Grange and Inglefield House, had to be organised with military precision to arrive on time and depart from the steps of St Paul's - the historic place of worship of the Haberdashers.

Delivering the annual Golden Lecture, Bishop Chessun said: "William Jones's greatest legacy are the pupils here today, who are looking forward to the future. You are the living legacy of his bequest.

"The leaving of money by William Jones, to people he would never know or meet, is an example of working for the greater good".

Rt Rev Chessun also praised the legacy's almhouses, founded in Monmouth to house the poor and elderly, which have been redeveloped in the past two years, and the "very strong link" between the school, which still occupies its original Wyeside site and the Haberdashers, stewards of the William Jones's Foundation for four centuries.

As the organist finished the service of thanksgiving for the legacy of William Jones and the 400th anniversary by playing Tocata from Symphony No 5, the congregation broke into spontaneous applause.

Afterwards, Haberdashers, governors, staff and sixth form pupils headed for a reception at London's historic Guildhall.

Last Wednesday's service was part of a year-long series of events marking the independent day and boarding school's 400th anniversary, which included a gala concert earlier this month featuring 550 pupils performing at the Wales Millennium Centre, and the visit of Prince Edward last Monday to open the new state-of-the-art William Jones teaching block and to unveil a bronze bust of the founder by Welsh sculptor Roger Andrews.

William Jones was a trader in wool, linen and cloth who made his fortune in Germany. As a member of the Haberdashers, one of the City's 12 liveried guilds, he left a bequest of £9,000 to found the school, which has survived and prospered through such momentous events as the Civil War and two world wars, with the 300th anniversary a century ago cancelled because of the outbreak of the Great War.