Choosing Day
Brightlingsea's Deputy, as the Mayor of Sandwich's representative in this Liberty, is annually charged truly to obey and execute all lawful commandments from him. The Deputy's Choosing takes place each year on the first Monday after Saint Andrew's Day (the first Monday in December) at All Saints Church, Brightlingsea. At 11am, as the bells stop tolling and a procession of Cinque Port dignitaries arrive in church, a short religious service begins.
This is followed by a ceremony for the election of the Deputy and the Recognition of New Inhabitants who, on swearing an oath of loyalty to the Deputy, are declared 'Recognised Inhabitants'. Residence in Brightlingsea for a year and a day is the New Inhabitants only necessary qualification and those of Brightlingsea birth or those who 'had the good sense to have married a Brightlingsea girl' are given their Freedom without payment. 'Foreigners' are fined eleven pennies (that's 11d old money) for the privilege.
Other monies paid to the Treasurer during the ceremony are four shillings (that's 4/- old money) each from six Assistants and the Deputy. An item of expenditure during the Deputy's reign is that of the town's payment of ten shillings (that's 10/- old money) in lieu of Ship Service, previously supplied by the men of Brightlingsea. This payment has become known as ship-money and is presented to the Mayor of Sandwich during the Deputy's visit to the Mother Port at the time of his Confirmation of Office.
To promote the historic significance of this day two year 10 students from the Colne Community School are invited to attend the Ceremony.
The Ringing Room
A W Norfolk being elected Deputy for 1927/28
Choosing Day is now held in the main body of the church
Confirmation Day
Each year in July, our Deputy is confirmed in office by the Mayor of Sandwich. In support of the Ceremony, The Gild of Freemen organise a coach to Sandwich, for those able to attend. The coach party visits a Town of interest on route and arrives at Sandwich at 3.30pm, where we are the guests of the Council and treated to sandwiches and cakes. The ceremony takes place in the ancient court room, where our Deputy takes the oath and receives his symbols of office.