We witnessed one of London’s strangest, most colourful, and probably noisiest traditions: the 80th Annual Grimaldi Clown Service. If you happened to pass by All Saints Church in Haggerston yesterday, you might have seen dozens of clowns lined up at the door in oversized shoes and red noses and wondered, “Am I dreaming?”
Here’s a summary of the surreal experience we lived through yesterday:
A Tribute to the Father of Modern Clowning: Joseph Grimaldi
Born in 1778, Joseph Grimaldi is the creator of the figure we now recognise as the classic “white-faced, clumsy, and funny” clown (aka “Joey”). Since 1946, every first Sunday in February, the clown fraternity gathers to honour Grimaldi and bid farewell to colleagues who have passed away during the year.
What you would normally expect to be a solemn church service turned yesterday into a full-blown festival of chaos and joy:
- An Extraordinary Entrance: The service began with clowns waddling down the aisle in their giant shoes, blowing bubbles, squirting water from fake flowers, and performing gags as they processed.
- Balloon Dogs and Sacred Texts: While passages from the Bible were being read, balloon animals—especially sausage dogs—were being twisted into shape right beside them. It was an experience unique to this service.
- Both Sorrow and Laughter: The most moving moment came when the names of clowns who had died during the year were read aloud. True to clown spirit, even these poignant moments were crowned with smiles.
After the ceremony, the churchyard and hall turned into a complete fairground. A special clown show was put on for children and adults who still carry their inner child, and—of course—the traditional cake was served. Finding a face without makeup was practically impossible!
Photo: AmandaLewis
