The annual Choral Evensong to commemorate Charles, King and Martyr, took place on Sunday 27th January from 6:30 pm at St Mary's and All Saints' Church, Kidderminster, hosted by President Peter Vaughan.
A small gathering of Association members joined the congregation at sung vespers for the Commemoration of Charles, King and Martyr, in the Whittall Chapel.
President Peter Vaughan read the lesson, a passage from St Timothy. The Rev Canon Owain Bell officiated, and read a moving contemporary account of the execution, from a book by C V Wedgwood, The Trial of Charles I, then said that, after all these years, the King is still considered by the Church of England to be a saint. He had a disastrous reign, largely due to his own ineptitude – he was not a political success, but he was a very devout Christian. The problem was all to do with the 'Divine Right of Kings', to which the King adhered. He quoted from a letter written before his death to his son, then Prince of Wales, and finished by concluding that he was a 'frail, flawed Christian mortal, like us, but he was a fine Christian'.
Canon Bell went on to say how important Charles I was to Kidderminster, to the School named after him, and to the Old Carolians Association. He said that this was the first Commemoration of Charles, King and Martyr, held at St Mary's Church within living memory, but hoped that it would be continued in the future. Association member David Morgan, Director of Music, played the organ and led the Choir, which included George and Anne Lloyd.