Photos show clowns filling a London church for one of the city’s strangest traditions

London is the home of many strange and colourful traditions - but this one might take the top spot.

Yesterday hundreds of clowns filled the pews of an east London church for one of the city’s most unusual annual traditions.

The Grimaldi Memorial Service, held at All Saints Church, takes place every year on the first Sunday of February and is open to clowns from around the world. Many attend in full costume, complete with face paint, colourful suits and oversized shoes, creating a striking and joyful scene inside the historic church.

The service honours Joseph Grimaldi, the legendary 19th-century stage performer widely regarded as the “King of Clowns”.

Grimaldi, who lived from 1778 to 1837, was a major star of London’s pantomime scene and is credited with shaping the modern image of clowning, including the white-face makeup still used today.

Now a fixture of London’s cultural calendar, the Grimaldi Memorial Service has been held annually since the 1940s and continues to draw performers from across the UK and overseas. Alongside hymns and readings, the service often includes light-hearted clowning touches, from bubbles drifting through the air to playful musical moments.

The event is free to attend and open to the public, with spectators encouraged to embrace the spectacle. For many Londoners, it offers a rare glimpse into a close-knit global clowning community and a reminder of the city’s long and colourful theatrical history.