Many years ago, whilst discretely looking through on old Book of Common Prayer during a boring sermon, I discovered that King Charles 1, the one in the Civil War and who was executed by Parliament, was listed as a martyr of the church. I assumed the church had long since discretely laid this aside. It was only after I had been ordained that I discovered the church still commemorates him, with his festival being the 30th January. There is even a society that holds an annual service to remember him. The website of the Church of England is honest about Charles. “His promotion of High Church practices in an overwhelmingly Calvinist (and increasingly Puritan) Church did not increase his popularity, nor did his use of harsh methods (in both Church and State) to enforce the royal will. And Charles was no statesman. Handicapped by his belief in the ‘divine right of kings’ he stood on his dignity, habitually failed to take the peaceful option, and showed in his public dealings that his word could not be relied upon. Even Archbishop Laud, who had more reason than most to be grateful to him, described Charles as ‘a mild and gracious prince who knew not how to be, or be made, great’.”
So why is he still celebrated? The website continues: “Perhaps sensing that he could do more good in death than he had ever done in life Charles resolved after receiving the death sentence to meet his end in a noble and fearless way ….. Paradoxically, his execution was a triumph which left an enduring legend….”.
Whether or not Charles was really a martyr, perhaps he can be commemorated for showing that whatever may or may not have been achieved in life, a good and Godly death is still possible.
Rev David Poyner