Pearly Costermonger's
Harvest Festival

Last Sunday in September at
The Cockney Bow Bells Church,
St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside

Continuing a tradition started in the 1800’s, London’s Pearly Kings, Queens, Princes and Princes are joined by dignitaries and a packed congregaion in a memorable occasion at the spiritual home of the London Cockney.

A parade of colourful Victorian coster donkeys and barrows, carrying their Harvest offerings, are led by a marching band from the Guildhall to the Church. Wonderful music is provided by the organist and choir from St Paul’s Cathedral and the Bible reading is undertaken by a Pearly Princess & Princess! As the Vicar leads the Pearlies, dignitaries and congregation from the Church, the world famous Bow Bells ring out ~ what a sound, what a sight! Why not come along this year.

A brief History of St Mary-le-Bow Church

‘I’m sure I don’t know’
says the Great Bell of Bow’

These words from the rhyme ‘Oranges & Lemons’ have a certain ring of truth ~ for although it is a deep-rooted tradition that a true Cockney must be born within the sound of Bow Bells ~ many seem unaware of their exact location or the fascinating history that surrounds them.

St Mary-le-Bow has become the most famous of all the City of London’s parish churches. It was first built in the 10th century ~ acquiring its name from having been the first to be built on bow shaped arches of stone. The Norman Crypt was the unusual setting for the infamous ‘Court of Arches’ and was also the scene of a treacherous murder. In the 11th century a hurricane carried the roof away “like a leaf”, and in 1271 the steeple fell and killed many people. When Christopher Wren rebuilt the Church he kept the original bow arches ~ they still survive today.

In the middle ages the church rang out the curfew ~ a signal to extinguish fires, close the City gates and end the days trading.

‘Turn again Dick Whittington ~
thrice Lord Mayor of London’

Legend has it that the Bow Bells rang out to a young man leaving London ~ he did turn again and became Lord Mayor three times.

In 1818, after cracks appeared, an examination of the foundations in the vaults revealed numerous coffins, perfectly dried bodies and remains of the Great Fire of London!

When the church was bombed in the 1940’s, London’s Pearlies helped to raise funds for the restoration of the Great Bell of Bow. The fragments of the bell, which were buried beneath the crypt, were dug up, melted down and re-cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, set them pealing once more on 20 December 1961. Fittingly, the first child to be baptised in the rebuilt church was a Pearly Prince, the grandson of a Pearly King and Queen.

The Pearly Costermonger’s Harvest Festival offers a rare chance to hear the Bow Bells ring out once more to all true Cockneys.