Blessed Charles, King and Martyr

Here is one of my latest icons, Blessed Charles King and Martyr.  I chose Charles because of my affiliation with the Society of King Charles the Martyr--a group of Anglicans around the world who advocate putting Charles back on the Anglican Calendar of Feasts.  He was canonized in 1660 by his son, Charles II in the Restoration of the Monarchy.

His feast day is January 30th.

For more information concerning membership into the US Branch of the Society of King Charles the Martyr, please

click here to go to the Society's website.

Collect for Blessed Charles Stuart 

from Celebrating Common Prayer

King of Kings and Lord of lords, whose faithful servant Charles prayed for those who persecuted him: by his example, give us the will to love and bless our enemies; through the power of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

"Why We Honour King Charles"

from the UK SKCM website

King Charles the Martyr was the last saint to be canonised by the Church of England.

He is honoured as a martyr because he died for the Church. He was offered his life if he would abandon episcopacy but he refused for this would have taken the Church of England away from being part of 'the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church’ and made Her into a sect.

So we venerate him for his sacrifice and see in it inspiration for us today.  

In the words of Dr. Mandell Creighton, Bishop of London 1897-1901 and a noted ecclesiastical historian: ‘Had Charles been willing to abandon the Church and give up episcopacy, he might have saved his throne and his life. But on this point Charles stood firm: for this he died, and by dying saved it for the future.’

Immediately upon the Restoration of Church and King on 19th May, 1660, the Convocation of Canterbury and York, now being free to assemble and act, canonised King Charles and added his name to the Kalendar of Saints at the revision of The Prayer Book (see example on main SKCM page).

It came into use with the authority of Church and State in 1662 and since that time parish churches and chapels have been dedicated under the title of S.Charles (often as King Charles the Martyr).

His reign saw the beginning of a revival of the Religious Life in the Church of England and the first attempt at Community Life (after the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII), which began at Little Gidding and was encouraged by S.Charles.

He oversaw many schemes for the Church: the restoration and adornment of churches and cathedrals, the founding and advancement of charities, the improvement of the liturgy and the re-introduction of the episcopacy in Scotland. His reign witnessed, albeit briefly, a Golden Age for Anglicanism especially in spiritual and devotional writing which is still much appreciated today.