| Where: | London from St Peters Italian Church in Clerkenwell Road |
| When: | Sunday in mid July (usually Sunday on or following 16th) |
| Time: | 3.30 pm |
St Peters is the oldest Italian church in London, founded in the mid nineteenth century to serve the needs of the large number of local immigrants from Italy. It is believed that the procession was the first outdoor Roman Catholic religious event held in England since the Reformation in the sixteenth century; it has been running annually since the 1880s (only the two World Wars and covid intervened!) and it celebrates the heritage of the local church and community. Before the procession, the statues and flowers are on display at the front of the church, with the larger floats in the neighbouring side-street and the church is open for visitors. The event begins with the release of doves outside the church, followed by a procession through the streets of Clerkenwell which includes musicians, icons, religious statues and floats with tableaux showing Biblical scenes. There are stalls selling Italian food – expect to hear Italian being spoken and plenty of flags!
Helpful Hints
St Peters holds a full range of services throughout the year.
In 2025 it should be on Sunday July 20th. Programmes with the route and timings are available in the church and online (follow links below). When we visited it took just over half-an-hour for the procession to pass by.
Click here for the Church Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StPetersItalianChurch/
Click here for the church website and contacts: http://parish.rcdow.org.uk/italianchurch/
Thanks to Paula Gerrard for the first photos and for drawing my attention to this event!
My family come area Terroni and Avella used to go as a child every year been fe times as a grown up, I usedt be a lovely day out.
what I remember 70 years or more ago was the locals were a mix of italian and Irish immigrants with Irish bands my dad’s friends were Italian English and Irish who all belong to the central club working man’s ciu when we moved we were the only family eating pasta va Zul in hoxton
Thanks for sharing Bill and Maria- sounds like a perfect day out!
Best wishes,
Averil
We, (myself and husband), attended this, (first timers), at today’s wonderful St Peters clerkenwells procession. What an emotional, touching gathering. The Italian was all so welcoming, friendly and helpful. Seeing the Madonna procession, young children participating in this ceremony. I was very overwhelmed. Thank you for an invitation to your world.
Saint Peter’s Italian Church is in Holborn rather than Clerkenwell, although the procession wends its way through certain streets of both places.
Clerkenwell was always known as Little Italy.
I was born there so can smell a decent Napolitan sauce from a distance.
I last came to this when I was a young child about 50 years ago as I didn’t live in London.My first generation English born mother brought me as her Italian parents were married in St Peter’s church in 1902. My mother and all her family came every year as youngsters before the war. The procession was smaller than I recalled as a child in the 1960s but the scene was still very emotional and the commitment to keep it going is simply wonderful. I will be back and hope it continues and thrives and reaches out to those of us rediscovering our Italian heritage. Thank you for a lovely spiritual experience and such a friendly and welcoming event
Is the procession date for 2015 confirmed? we are coming to London in July and hoping to attend again. Thanks 🙂
Hi Elaine,
I’ll try to find out by phone asap – their website is no longer working so I’ll try the old fashioned way!
Best Wishes,
Averil
Hi Elaine,
I’ve just rung the church office and the date is confirmed for this year – Sunday 19th July. Hope you enjoy it!
Best Wishes,
Averil
Thank you so much Averil, this is the week we will be there! Do you happen to know the time it starts at? Elaine.
The procession is at about 3.30 but the stalls etc will be there earlier – enjoy!
Averil
Yes elain, July 19 and starts at 3.30…enjoy
Elaine, I know it’s a year to Late but for the future it’s always on the next Sunday after the 11th July X
Thank you! Almost another year on.
We have timed it perfectly for this year too 🙂
Clerkenwell is east of the railway/fleet ditch. It is in Holborn.
Clerkenwell is not in Holborn. It is a separate place altogether and borders Holborn a short distance west of the River Fleet and the railway.
Always heard about this wonderful event and even though I was born and breed a Londoner never got to go to it. I even use to clean the windows at the Scalabrini in Brixton Road including the houses it owned adjacent. It’s time I reconnected with my Italian heritage, so next year I intend coming. In the meantime, if there is anything I can do on making a drum role to call on second-generation Italian and even let me 🙂
romano barca
I did the Italian Festival in Essex maybe we can work together
Please see video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzVaY_iQupk
Hi Malcolm,
Here at calendarcustoms we have no connection with the running of the Procession – if you follow this link it’ll get you to the right place :
http://parish.rcdow.org.uk/italianchurch/contact/
Best of luck!
Averil
Need to know date of this year`s procession urgently. Surely it will be Sunday 17th?
Hi Bruna,
Here at calendarcustoms we have no connection with the organisation of the event – you’ll need to get in touch with the church direct on this link : http://parish.rcdow.org.uk/italianchurch/contact/ where you’ll find email and telephone contact details. Best of luck!
Averil
Hi Bruna it’s the 22nd this Sunday, Darren and I will be going. Hopefully we will see you then xx
Nearest tube station to it please
Chancery Lane is nearest (or Farringdon for overground)
Hi I had my first communion
here and remember it well,I’m
57 now, such a great memory ❤️
I had my first Holy Communion here and was part of the beautiful procession,I have great memories of a wonderful day, it was lovely to come back and see the children having their first communion,I am 60 now and returning brought back precious memories for me,so special ❤️
please l will like to find out if the feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel will be celebrated in all Catholic churches in the UK..
Hello- Sorry I don’t have any information on that! I expect it will be celebrated at some churches but not all- you’d need to check with the individual churches to find details. Sorry I can’t be more help!
Best wishes,
Averil
Looking forward to tomorrow. What is the nearest tube station?
Hi Lorena-nearest tube station is probably Faringdon
Enjoy!
Averil
I used to watch this when I was a young lad back in the sixties grew up in clerkenwell
I was in this parade for my first communion when I was seven and I remember it well
I’m 63 now and love the atmosphere with my Italian heritage ❤️