You might not be the greatest fan of going to church on Sunday, but rest assured, this service will be like no other you've ever attended.
The
Clown's Service - open to clowns and non-clowns alike - first took place in 1946 as an informal gathering for the clowning community. Over the years, the Service has attracted an ever-growing congregation. It has taken on a life of its own since 1967 when it was decided all clowns would be allowed to attend in full 'motley' (costume) and 'slap' (make-up).
As you might imagine, all those who attend should be prepared for a colourful crowd offering a lot of bad jokes and mischief. The most pressing question becomes not how many clowns can you fit in a Mini, but how many can you fit in a church? So make sure you arrive early, if you want to secure a seat!
But although this might be a day of pranks, drama, and laughter, it is underpinned by a mutual respect for one man - one of the most celebrated figures in clowning history: Joseph Grimaldi (also known as 'Joey').
Born in 1778 to immigrant Italian parents both involved in theatre, he was only a toddler when he put in his first appearances on stage. In his pantomime performances, Grimaldi crafted the blueprints of the traditional clown - choreographing brilliant physical comedy to suit the role of buffoon yet still able to poke fun at the audience.
Sadly, the official
Clown's Museum has now moved to Wookey Hole in Somerset, but there is a small corner at the Church still dedicated to Grimaldi which includes photographs, 'eggs' (records of unique 'slap' designs) and an impressive stained glass window depicting the major events of Joey's life.
After the Service, there follows a series of performances by the international gathering of clowns. Much of this is improvised on the day but, in the past, it has included animals, juggling, acrobatics and even a bit of magic. In fact, there's a surreal magic about this entire day on which no clown or clown-fan should miss out.
