London Charles I Commemoration

Where: London, at the Banqueting House, Whitehall or All Saints Margaret Street for SKCM service and Parade from The Mall to Whitehall
When: 30th January SKCM Service & Mass (unless 30th is a Sunday, when it moves to the Saturday 29th instead) & Sunday near 30th ECWS Sunday Parade
Time: 11.40 SKCM Service, 11.30 English Civil War Society Sunday Parade with Service at 12.30

 

Charles I  was beheaded on January 30th 1649, the only king to be publicly executed in Britain and two events mark the date annually in London. Each year the anniversary is marked by special prayers and wreath laying at his statue outside the Banqueting Hall in London which was the site of his decapitation, followed by a Mass inside the Banqueting House. The King wore several shirts as the weather was cold and he didn’t want to shiver because  the assembled crowd might think he was trembling with fear. As soon as he was executed, Charles was portrayed as a martyr for his faith and for many years muffled peals of bells rang throughout the country on this day. The Society of King Charles the Martyr organise the event at the Banqueting House. The English Civil War Society also organise an impressive annual parade to Whitehall to mark the anniversary, which is held on a Sunday near to the 30th (this is the event on the photographs). The assembled costumed participants solemnly march slowly up the Mall to the beat of muffled drums, then a brief Drumhead service follows at Horseguards before a small party take the commemorative wreath under Horseguards Arch to hang close to the bust of Charles I at Whitehall, before the army march off with colours flying.

Helpful Hints

In 2025 the SKCM Mass should be on Thursday 30th January at noon, venue yet to be confirmed (confirmation is usually very near the due date). When 30th falls on a Sunday the SKCM wreath laying and service move to the preceding Saturday (29th) instead.

In 2024 the English Civil War Society Sunday Parade was on Sunday January 28th  from 11.15 am starting at the Mall with the usual outdoor service at Horseguards at around 12 noon and Whitehall around 12.30 . 2025 details are yet to be confirmed ( and bear in mind timings may be a little flexible. Everyone is welcome – you don’t need to be a society member to take part. The start of the procession is partway along the Mall, not right at the Buckingham Palace end, and is timed to follow the changing of the guard at the Palace. A wreath is also placed at the equestrian statue of King Charles at Charing Cross.

Click here for All Saints Margaret Street: https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsMargaretStreet

Click here for the SKCM website: http://www.skcm.org/SKCM/Events/events.html

Click here for the English Civil War Society: https://www.facebook.com/TheEnglishCivilWarSociety and here: https://ecws.org.uk








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