In acknowledgement of Stow 's continuing reputation as the founding father of London history , the quill held by his effigy has been periodically renewed . The renewal is mentioned as taking place " annually " in 1828 ; and , although the custom may later have fallen into abeyance , it was revived following the monument 's restoration by the Merchant Taylors ' Company in 1905 . In 1924 , the ceremony was incorporated into a special church service , with an address by a London historian ; and this service continued to be held annually every April until 1991 , including the years of the Second World War . No services could be held in 1992 or 1993 because of damage to the church caused by the Baltic Exchange bomb of 1992 . The service was revived in 1994 , but since 1996 has been held only once every three years . The services are jointly sponsored by the Merchant Taylors ' Company and the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society , with the quill supplied by the society . The exchange of the quill is undertaken by the Lord Mayor of London or the Master Merchant Taylor alternately
Baltic Exchange bomb
Baltic Exchange bombing
John Stow