The Good Friday sermon at Paul’s Cross

For a long time a learned man chosen by the bishop preached every Good Friday afternoon at Paul’s Cross, the timber pulpit on stone steps in St Paul’s churchyard, on the Passion. On the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Easter week others preached on the Resurrection from a like pulpit at the Spital, and on Low Sunday a fifth preacher at Paul’s Cross went over all four sermons, praising or finding fault, before giving one of his own. The Lord Mayor and aldermen attended in their violet gowns on Good Friday and in scarlet, with their ladies, at the Spital. When it rained the sermon was preached in the Shrouds, a covered place beside the cathedral open at the front.