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Worshipful Company of Skinners
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Worshipful Company of Skinners (known as The Skinners' Company) is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. It was originally an association of fur traders. It has evolved into an educational and charitable institution, supporting schools such as Tonbridge School and The Judd School in Tonbridge, Kent, Skinners' School in Tunbridge Wells and the Skinners' School for Girls in London.
Under an order issued by the Lord Mayor of London in the 15th century, the Company ranks in sixth or seventh place (making it one of the "Great Twelve City Livery Companies") in the order of precedence of the Livery Companies, alternating annually with the Merchant Taylors' Company. Although this cannot have been the origin of the phrase "At sixes and sevens", as the phrase appears in the works of Geoffrey Chaucer over one hundred years earlier, a connection between the event and the phrase is presumed to exist in some manner.
The Skinners are normally sixth in the order of precedence in even numbered years, and at seven in odd numbered years, but as the Lord Mayor for 2005/6 was a member of the Merchant Taylor's company they kept precedence. Merchant Taylor's kept precedence in 2006/7, their regular turn.
The Company's motto is To God Only Be All Glory.