Have fun with clowns in London

When: 1st February 2015 at 3pm

Where: All Saints Church Haggerston, London E8 4EZ

£: Free

What is it?

The unique annual Clowns Church Service, also known as the Grimaldi Service, will be held on Sunday 1st February 2015 at 3pm. This year the event will take place at the All Saints Church, in Haggerston, London.  The service will see hundreds of costumed clowns gather to commemorate Joseph Grimaldi and other deceased clowns.

Joseph Grimaldi was an English actor, comedian and dancer, who became a well-known and respected clown performer.  Charles Dickens even saw Grimaldi as a child, and later Dickens went on to edit his memoirs.  After his death, Grimaldi was buried in St James’ Episcopal Chapel’s burial ground, which is now known as Joseph Grimaldi Park.  Joseph Grimaldi Park can be found just off Pentonville Road in Islington, north London. The annual Clowns Church Service was first held at the park in 1946.

In 1959 this quirky annual service moved to the Holy Trinity Church in Dalston.  Holy Trinity is also known as the Clowns’ Church, and at the back of the church there is a special Gallery displaying clown memorabilia including props, photographs and costumes.  The service attracts hundreds of performers from all over the world who attend in full clown costume and afterwards usually perform for members of the public.

Please note that this year’s service will be held at the nearby All Saints Church in Haggerston.

More info: www.trinitysaintsunited.com and www.facebook.com/pages/Clowns-International