In 1946 a church service took place at the Holy Trinity Church in Dalston, east London, to commemorate the life of Joseph Grimaldi, considered by many as the father of modern clowning.
The service became an annual event and still takes place to this day, on the first Sunday in February, although it is now at All Saints Church in Haggerston, where it is attended by a congregation of clowns from all over the world.
In 1977, the BBC’s Nationwide programme went behind the scenes to find out more and to speak to the vicar in charge of the service.
First broadcast February 1977
