Kernow - 1549 Commemoration Service at St Petroc's Church, Bodmin

Remembering the bloody events of 1549……

A packed St Petroc’s Church, Bodmin on Sunday 15th August, 2021 saw a service commemorating the bloody events of 1549 when thousands of Cornish people were killed or violently put to death by representatives of the English establishment whilst defending their Catholic religious practices, Cornish language and Celtic customs.

In a bilingual ceremony led by the Reverend Paul Holley and hosted by the Bodmin Old Cornwall Society conducted in the presence of civic dignitaries including the Mayor of Bodmin, Councillor J.P. Cooper, his Deputy, and their consorts, representatives of Gorsedh Kernow, the International Celtic Congress, the many Old Cornwall Societies as well as Cornish political parties and campaign groups and many others, young and old, the service began with a huge procession of banners from the various organisations led by Dr Merv Davey and his Cornish pipes as well as magnificent St Piran flags.

Reference was made to the massacre which occurred at Clyst Heath on 5th August, 1549 when 900 disarmed Cornish prisoners who had surrendered were bound and had their throats cut by the English soldiers and their Italian and German mercenaries.

This was followed by an account of the subsequent bloodbath which was initiated in Cornwall by representatives of the English government who murdered thousands including priests and mayors, destroyed Cornish churches and records as well as centres of Cornish learning together with desecration of holy sites.

It is estimated that up to 11% of the population of Cornwall as well as their Devon allies were murdered and the English language was bloodily forced on to the Cornish.

According to the historian, Professor Mark Stoyle, the scale of casualties in Cornwall and Devon was not equalled until the First World War.

Commonly referred to as the ‘Prayer Book Rebellion’, many historians now refer to the event as the ‘Anglo Cornish War’.

Songs, hymns and prayers were performed in both Cornish and English and the service ended with the singing of ‘Trelawny’.

Of particular interest was the display of 900 St Piran flags, one for each of the Cornish men murdered at Clyst Heath.

Memorial stones exist around Cornwall and Devon marking the events and aftermath of 1549 and in 2007, the then Bishop of Truro, the Right Reverend Bill Ind publicly announced an apology made on behalf of the English Government.

Images: the display of 900 Cornish flags in the corner of the church and part of the procession of banners