A memorial service which sees hundreds of clowns pile into a North London church celebrated its 80th year in early February.
The annual funeral celebrates the life of the esteemed Joseph Grimaldi, credited as the ‘father of clowning’.
The tradition began after WW2 when clowns gathered at Grimaldi’s 19th century grave in full clown regalia to pay tribute to their fallen friends.
The event has only grown in popularity since its inception, with this year’s congregation reaching heights of around 700 jesters, mimes and harlequins parading through the streets of Dalston before holding communion in Holy Trinity Church.
“I’m a Catholic, it’s totally the opposite to what I would expect when I’m in church,” said Julie Proctor.
“Sitting in church, in God’s house, and this happening is unbelievable. The electricity, it’s absurd.”
Proctor is the official ‘clown egg artist’ for Clowns International, the world’s oldest clowning organisation.
She is responsible for painting every new member’s face onto an egg, a tradition that’s also been running for almost a century.
These eggs are displayed to the congregation each year.
Despite the premise of the service, punctuated by balloons and bubbles, Grimaldi is a sincere moment to remember loved ones who have died in the past year.
The list of Clowns international members who have passed away is announced and a prayer is read for every single one.
Proctor said: “It is a serious thing, there are family members who are there at the service whose grandfather passed away.”
Compassion isn’t the first thing associated with clowns, but Grimaldi highlights a core aspect of the clowning community that is this care.
The NW Londoner also spoke to Mattie Feint, Clowns International’s archivist of 40 years who organises the service and personally tends Grimaldi’s grave.
During this time, Feint worked as a professional ‘giggle doctor’, serving at Great Ormond Street Hospital for 19 years as their resident clown.
“I think people are looking for a lighter side of life – I’ve never looked for it, it’s always been in my path,” Feint said.
These clowns bring levity to the mourning and the sick, and are inspiring a younger generation of clowns to attend Grimaldi and take part in their antics.
Proctor said the congregation was younger and more diverse than ever this year.
“It’s bringing back tradition that was dying a death […] We need the younger clowns. That’s what’s going to keep clowning going,” she said.
The Grimaldi service takes place the first Sunday of February each year, with Feint and Proctor aiming to squeeze even more clowns into a London-based church next year.
Featured image credit: Mattie Feint
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