DEATH OF KING AND MARTYR REMEMBERED

This letter is published in today's Leicester Mercury:

Death of king and martyr remembered

At noon tomorrow, there is to be a service at the Church of St Mary de Castro, Castle Street, Leicester, commemorating the death of Charles, King and Martyr.

This is very appropriate in view of the part played by Leicester in the English Civil War and the Siege of Leicester in May 1645, when King Charles I was present.

Refreshments, a display and, hopefully, members in uniform from the Civil War re-enactment societies, will follow. All are welcome.Leaflets will be available at the service describing why King Charles is described as a martyr, a controversial subject.

The Church of St Mary de Castro was close to the scenes of the main action and indeed, the south wall of the churchyard is, to this day, still loop-holed in preparation for a last-ditch stand by the defending garrison and townspeople of Leicester.

There is also a mass grave of the defenders close to the churchyard.King Charles was offered his life by Parliament if he would abandon Episcopacy, the governance of the Church of England by the Bishops, which we still have today; but this would have removed the church from being part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, which we still say in the Creed and would have made the church into a sect.On this point, Charles stood firm and for this he died.

I can be contacted on 0116 271 6086 for any queries on leaflets and I hope as many as possible will attend this historic service.

Chris Stephens, Oadby