Clowns Church Service

The first Sunday in February is the annual clowns church service at Holy Trinity Church in Dalston, east London. Clowns attend a church service in memory of the clown Joseph Grimaldi. The clowns usually perform for the public after the church service.

This has been an annual tradition since 1946. The service moved to Holy Trinity Church in 1959, and in 1967 permission was given for the clowns to attend in their costumes.

Sunday 7 February 2010 at 3pm.

Holy Trinity Church
Beechwood Road
Dalston
Hackney
London
E8 3DY
Tel: 020 7254 5062 Location map

Nearest Train Station: Dalston Kingsland

Plenty of buses serve Dalston Junction. Use Journey Planner to plan your route by public transport.

The church service is free but donations are always welcome.

Joseph Grimaldi is the most celebrated English clown. He was born in London in 1778 and died in 1837.

His tomb is in the Joseph Grimaldi Park in Islington:
Address: Next to 154a Pentonville Road, between Rodney Street and Cumming Street
Nearest tube stations: King's Cross St Pancras / Angel
Location map

When the clowns leave the church they are usually kind enough to perform the waiting public.

Note: The Clown's Museum has moved out of London to Wookey Hole Caves, Wells, Somerset.

However, Holy Trinity Church is the official "Clown's Church" and has a Grimaldi corner and a small exhibition of photographs, eggs and items in three show cases. The church can be visited in order to see the exhibition on the first Friday of each month as before, but it is now wise to contact Mattie Faint beforehand in case there has been a change of dates. Mattie can be contacted on 020 7608 0312.

There's plenty to do in the area on a Sunday so make a day or it.

If you like shopping go to morning only Columbia Road Flower Market, or Brick Lane, Petticoat Lane, or Old Spitalfields.

If you'd like a museum, try the Museum of Childhood or the Geffrye Museum.