Clowns to take over Canterbury Cathedral

Independent Catholic News ^ | August 29, 2007

[NYer]

For the first time in the history of Canterbury Cathedral, the Holy Fools UK will be holding a special service to cerebrate their 25th Silver Anniversary. The Service will take place on Saturday, 15 September at 6pm and will have up to 30 Christian clowns (Holy Fools) in the service, all colourfully made up and in costume ready to present this special service with all the energy and fun that clowns give. The public is warmly invited to the service to join them in this special celebration

The Holy Fools is a national Christian organization with members throughout the UK. The aim of the Holy Fools is to use clowning, miming puppetry, dance, storytelling and allied arts in ministry and worship. We make services special, memorable and fun!!.

The National events co-ordinator Richard James said: "We are really looking forward to this special event which is a celebration and an opportunity to entertain the public and show how we use our ministry. Members, some professional clowns, have taken part and performed in hundreds of churches throughout the UK we are always well received and the congregation leaves with a smile on their face. We are an interdenominational organization and we welcome new members who would like to train to become a Holy Fool we help release the clown in you!!

Please contact Richard James email: rokeytheclown@hotmail.com for more information.

[NYer]

Holy Fools UK is an organization of around 150 Christians from all denominations.

The majority perform as holy fools in churches and church events nationwide and they adopt their own clown name.

The aim of Holy Fools is to explore how clowning, miming, puppetry, dance, storytelling and allied arts can be used in ministry and worship and to enable their practitioners to develop their skills.

Some of us do not perform but just take part in the service or communion. Just being there in the church is not only symbolic, but also an act of personal worship.

To some the name "clown" and "holy fool" can be interchangeable, although some members would prefer only the name "holy fool" because the holy fool is not just entertaining, but on a mission to give something special to the world.

-Mr Custard

1 Corinthians 1:27 "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise"

This is interpreted by the majority of our members in the form of the "Clown". It may be asked what relevance clowning has to the Christian life, but a clown reflects human nature with all its strengths and weaknesses; the 'holy fool' takes this further and performs with faith, hope and love.

Faith - a clown is sexless, ageless and classless. He always has to be open and expose his own vulnerability to the audience. He risks being accepted and applauded or being rejected each time he exposes his painted face and baggy trousers, he is openly showing what he is and not hiding behind a mask of respectability. He cannot help but be the centre of attention. A clown is like a child, innocent, accepting people and things as they are and finding simple joy in all he meets.

Hope - The clown is not just a symbol of joy, but of hope and believes everything is possible. He will try to walk the tightrope like the experts, but will fall off and try again. Sometimes he succeeds, much to the appreciation of the audience. They see in the clown the possibility of succeeding against all odds, which reflects hope in their own lives.

Love - A clown only exists to give to his audience, he is there to serve and wants to give his complete self. He makes no conditions on the audience, there is no demand on them to return the love he gives them.He helps us to want to care about the character he plays; we can laugh and cry with him and sympathise with him as he 'suffers' on our behalf. He gives us laughter and sometimes insight into the human condition in which we all have a mutual interest.

The holy fool can do all this but hopefully goes further.

One of the important things that can be shown is how the joy of being a Christian can be shown through clowning. When you are dressed as a clown, you have made yourself vulnerable as a figure of joy, you are seen as being open and approachable. All new holy fools are amazed at how differently they are treated in costume and makeup; everyone is more open to you. Although the holy fool carries a serious message, it must not be forgotten what fun, joy and laughter clowns can bring to a sad world. We can perform anywhere and being a holy fool is a great way to connect with the public.

[NYer]

Clowns belong in a circus, not in a Church, especially when the Church is a Cathedral.

[AnAmericanMother]

This really is going too far, even for the C of E.

There IS a church in London that has always had a "Clown Service" in which the clowns do the readings and so forth, and attend in "motley and slap" (costume and makeup). But there's a good reason for it -- the church is near the old winter quarters of the London circuses, and is the successor church to the deconsecrated church where Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837), first of the English clowns, is buried.

Grimaldi.

Grimaldi's grave in the churchyard of St. James, Pentonville.

The annual Clown Service at Holy Trinity, Dalston, successor parish to St. James Pentonville. They have a show AFTERWARDS, in the parish hall, not during the service.

But that sort of thing should be confined to a place where it is supported by long tradition . . . not just dragged into the Cathedral for the heck of it.

[Alex Murphy]

DUMBING IT DOWN
(sung to the tune of "Send In The Clowns")

Isn't it rich
are we a pair?
Me with my feet on the ground
Your head in the air
Dumbing it down

Isn't it Grace
by which we're approved?
Or is it the constant repentance
until you can't move
without falling down or
Dumbing it down

Just when I prayed
you'd open your doors
And I started attending
the church that is yours
make my entreaty again
for Christ's Lordship of all
only to find
left open skulls
Nothing is there.

You must love farce
whose fault I can't say
but He never gets what He wants
without your okay
so Omnipotence drowns
and Providence frowns
as you Dumb it Down

What a surprise
that God predestined
you think what you do
and forget about Him
You flit about
to build house and bridge
testaments to your compassion
no mention of Him

In this week's church
bulletin here
they're got interpretive dance
and oh lookee here
there's going to be clowns
Next week there'll be clowns
Don't bother, they're here

[Greg F]

I react against this viscerally. Jongleur de Dieu and all of that given, but clowns in a Cathedral seems wrong to me.

[Mad Dawg]

Look, Greg, you gotta calm down, see?

Instead of getting all upset about clowns in the cathedral why not just be happy that the House of Bishops of the US Episcopal Church are all in England for Labor Day weekend. Nobody can be as venal and stupid as they are without a little time off, so why shouldn't they go to Canterbury?

With a nice refreshing little vacation like this, why they may even have the fortitude to ordain a polygamist or someone who practices bestiality. You gotta look on the positive side ....

[Greg F]

Well, Americans had muscular christianity . . . I guess this is the Anglican equivalent.

[Mad Dawg]

Well, Americans had muscular christianity

Now replaced in the Episcopal Church with dainty Christianity.

[Grunthor]

cerebrate
A verb
1 think, cogitate, cerebrate

use or exercise the mind or one’s power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments; “I’ve been thinking all day and getting nowhere”

[Greg F]

Now replaced in the Episcopal Church with dainty Christianity.
_______________________

LOL.

[Greg F]

[ichabod1]

Well, fortunately it’s not really a church any more. Or unfortunately. It’s still an insult to the memory of St. Thomas A Beckett.

[NYer]

I HATE clowns!

[NYer]

Ping!

[Alex Murphy]

I HATE clowns!

How can you not like clowns? Especially when they bring pies?

[Greg F]

I HATE clowns!

_______________________________

Did you catch the contact for the mass or whatever they call this service?

Please contact Richard James email: rokeytheclown@hotmail.com for more information.

[NYer]

How can you not like clowns? Especially when they bring pies?"

You are such an easy target ;-)

Alex Murphy

[NYer]

Yuck!

[sionnsar]

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[AnAmericanMother]