| Where: | Bodmin, Cornwall at St Petroc's Church and Penryn at the Commorative Stone on Quay Hill |
| When: | Mid August. -weekday varies at Bodmin though often a Sunday, Penryn on a Saturday near the anniversary |
| Time: | 3pm Bodmin, 12.30 Penryn |
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. At Penryn, a commemorative service is held at the Memorial Stone on Quay Hill followed by a Parade to the Town Fair, on a Saturday near the anniversary.
Helpful Hints
In 2025 the Bodmin event was on Sunday 17th August at 3 pm. The weekday varies from one year to another- in 2022 it was on Thursday 18th August for example, but it’s always around 17th and recently has settled on a Sunday. The Penryn event was on Saturday 23rd August at 12.30. 2026 dates are yet to be announced.
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
Click here for Old Cornwall Societies and check Events for Penryn: https://kernowgoth.org
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