The work and witness of The Society of King Charles the Martyr is as important today as it ever has been in history. Our central task of drawing churchmen and women to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the life and martyrdom of S.Charles continues today.

The era of the Caroline Divines was a Golden Age for Catholic Anglican doctrinal writing, liturgy and spirituality. The Society has never attempted to be an historical association but rather one that seeks to recall a living tradition from the past and to present it anew.

The activities of SKCM today revolve around the keeping of the three feast days associated with S.Charles; S.Charles’s Day (30th January), Restoration Day (29th May) and the Nativity of S.Charles (19th November).

Each is kept with Mass organised by SKCM to which members are particularly encouraged to attend. By long tradition the Society has held the devotions and offered the Mass upon S.Charles’s Day at the Banqueting House, Whitehall, the place of the King’s martyrdom. This has been possible through the kind permission of English Heritage that cares for the building. Restorationtide is kept as the Society’s annual festival. At all our services a guest preacher is invited and the sermons printed in our journal Church and King.

In addition to the three services each year, SKCM organises special services of commemoration. On 18th November, 2000 a Solemn High Mass was offered at Dunfirmline Abbey, birthplace of the Martyr, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of his birth (click here to see more photos of the service).

The other main work of SKCM today is a steady output of publications. Church and King is sent to all members twice yearly and in recent years other publishing projects have been undertaken.

Membership in SKCM is a vital way of supporting our objectives. As a non-profit organisation the Society is dependent upon the generosity of those who support our work.

In the past SKCM was an organisation made up of many regional and diocesan branches. Today members are drawn from all over the country with our journal acting as a key point of contact.

SKCM continues to offer support and guidance for those who are seeking to keep S.Charles’s Days (and the other feasts) and makes modest financial grants to individuals and organisations who are working for the ‘defence of the apostolicity of the Church’ as our founding forefathers desired.

Amongst the Noble Army of Martyrs who followed Christ through life to death we find S.Charles. SKCM today seeks to honour his memory, to remember his martrydom and to seek benefit by his prayers.