| Where: | Bodmin, Cornwall at St Petroc's Church |
| When: | Mid August. -weekday varies |
| Time: | 3pm |
The Prayer Book Rebellion took place in 1549, when the Church of England under Edward VI issued a new version of the Book of Common Prayer in English (the previous established version having been in Latin). A popular rebellion ensued, partly owing to economic and other religious factors but also because the new Book was in a language that the people didn’t understand, with Cornish widely spoken at the time. Also known as the Western Rebellion, the rebels were crushed by government forces under Lord John Russell in a series of pitched battles including the Clyst Heath Massacre where 900 Cornishmen lost their lives; in total the death toll is estimated at over 5000. The events are seen as significant in the decline of the Cornish language and subsequent attempts to produce religious works in Cornish were unsuccessful. Bodmin Old Cornwall Society organise an annual commemorative service which involves a parade of banners in St Petroc’s Church, with flags representing the 900 lost at Clyst Heath, and the lighting of a candle in memory of those who gave their lives for their beliefs. The service takes place in mid August, near to the date of the Battle of Sampford Courtenay on 17th, and parts of the service are in Cornish.
Helpful Hints
In 2024 it was on Sunday 18th August at 3pm- 2025 details are yet to be announced. The weekday varies from one year to another- in 2022 it was on Thursday 18th August for example, but it’s always around 17th.
Click here for the Old Cornwall Society Bodmin branch: https://kernowgoth.org/member-societies/bodmin-old-cornwall-society/
and here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bodminhistory
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