The Society of King Charles the Martyr keeps three religious observances each year to celebrate different commemorations. Each of the services are attended by members and non-members alike, everyone indeed is most welcome. The liturgy used at the services is The Prayer Book Rite of 1637 and 1662 and a preacher of note is invited to give the sermon.
Feast of the Martyrdom of S.Charles, 30th January
Monday 30 Jan 2012 11.40am
Commemoration at the place of the Martyrdom
Noon High Mass with Sermon
Inside the Banqueting House, Whitehall
Celebrant: The Chaplain to SKCM
The Preacher: The Bishop of Richborough
Followed by Veneration of the Relic
The service is held at the site of S.Charles’s martyrdom, The Banqueting House in Whitehall, London. Wreath laying and prayers near the place of the martyrdom are offered at 11.40 a.m. followed by High Mass and sermon at noon within the Banqueting House itself.
When the 30th January falls on a Sunday it is customary to transfer the observance to the preceding Saturday.
The Society’s relics of S. Charles are placed upon the altar for the Mass and may be venerated and viewed after the service. A choir, usually from King’s College, London sings at the Mass. The Banqueting House is where S. Charles was kept for several hours on the day of his decollation. It is a magnificent setting for the Mass: the architect was Inigo Jones and the ceiling adorned by the great paintings of Rubens. There is an exhibition on the ground floor describing the events of 30th January 1649.
The Society is very grateful to the Royal Palaces Agency for their permission to hold the Mass. Access to the Banqueting House for the commemoration and Mass is free of charge. The costs of the service are considerable and donations gratefully received. SKCM also provides a bookstall after the Mass.
A good description of the commemoration of 30th can be found in Jeremy Paxman’s book, On Royalty (Penguin-Viking 2006) p.142-152
Restoration Day (or Oak Apple Day) commemorates the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 when King Charles II returned to England from exile. The day is kept as our annual
festival with a Solemn Mass or Matins and Sermon on the nearest Saturday to 29th May.
Our annual general meeting follows the service to which members of the Society are encouraged to attend. The location of this service changes most years to give the Society an
opportunity to celebrate S. Charles in new places.
The Mass of the Nativity of S.Charles is kept on or near 19th November. It has been customary in recent years for this to be celebrated in London, often at S. Katharine Cree in the City and a priest member of the Society invited to give the sermon. All events are publicised in advance in the Society’s journal, Church and King and in other areas of the Church press.
The Society hosts other events and activities as advertised through Church and King.
