EVESHAM and Pershore residents are being invited to the annual of commemoration for Oliver Cromwell which is being held in Worcester for the first time.
September 3, 1651 saw Oliver Cromwell’s decisive military victory at Worcester over the Royalist army led by Charles Stuart, who finally achieved the throne at the Restoration of 1660. It was the last episode in the bloody conflict which tore England and the home nations apart from 1642 onwards.
Cromwell is one of the most controversial figures in our national history. Born into what he described as ’obscurity’ in Huntingdon in 1599 he became drawn into politics first as MP for Huntingdon and in 1640 for Cambridge.
Most historians now agree that his own sense of religious conviction drove him to take an active part in parliament’s conflict with the monarchy that ultimately led to the trial and execution of King Charles I in 1649.
His elevation to the role of Lord Protector, the head of state, followed a bitter campaign in Ireland and victory over the Scots at Dunbar on September 3, 1650 and a year later at Worcester. Cromwell considered September 3 a date of great significance to him and so it proved with his death at Whitehall on the afternoon of September, 3 1658.
The Cromwell Association established the tradition of an annual service of commemoration over seventy years ago and it has only rarely been held anywhere other than at Westminster.
An association spokesman said: “The event is usually held by the statue of Cromwell overlooking Parliament Square, but due to building works an alternative venue has been sought.
“Worcester is a city of huge significance to Cromwell and to the history of the civil wars of the seventeenth century, and an appropriate place for the service to take place.”
The service will be held tomorrow (Saturday) in the Lady Chapel of Worcester Cathedral at 2.15pm and all are welcome to attend. Professor Peter Gaunt, association President, will give the addres on the theme of Cromwell and Worcester.
Prior to the service at 1.45pm a wreath honouring Cromwell, and all those who died in the civil wars, will be laid The Commandery, in conjunction with the Battle of Worcester Society.
