The King Charles Lecture
The King Charles Lectures 2025
‘Angel’s music in mortal’s dress’ – an illustrated lecture on the life and music of the influential Stuart courtier and musician, John Wilson (1595-1674), by Matthew Spring.
Concert by the Choir of the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court
A concert of celebratory music, reflecting our royal dedication, directed by Carl Jackson.
Lecture by Professor Simon Thurley: ‘The pleasure palaces of King Charles and Henrietta Maria’. Simon Thurley’s recent book, Palaces of Revolution, is a fascinating survey of the architecture and cultural life of the Stuart dynasty throughout the 17th century.
About the King Charles Lecture
The lectures started in 1975 and were instituted by the Friends of King Charles the Martyr, which was formed at that time to raise serious money for roof and other structural repairs.
The Friends continued until around 2012. Organising the lectures is now the responsibility of the PCC.
Past lectures:
2024
‘Who are all these people?’ – the Subscription Lists of the church of King Charles the Martyr, 1676-84 and 1688-96
Dr Richard Morrice, Historic England & King Charles the Martyr
2023
Saint or Tyrant?: The Visual Image of Charles I.
David Howarth, Emeritus Professor of Edinburgh University.
2022
A “Vain Amatorious Poem”: John Milton and Charles I Between Politics and Literature
Professor Joe Moshenska, University College, Oxford
2021
“The Sweetest of Sweets”? George Herbert and the music of the 17th century church
Dr Simon Jackson, Director of Music, Peterhouse, and Director of Studies in English Literature at Hughes Hall, Cambridge
2020
The Harpsichord in the English Manner – an illustrated exploration of English Keyboard Music 1600 – 1685
Steven Devine, Principal Keyboard Player with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
2019
The cult of King Charles – the Tyrant King?
Rev Canon Professor Mark D Chapman, Professor of the History of Theology, University of Oxford and Vice-Principal of Ripon College, Cuddesdon
2018
King Charles and Sir Antony van Dyck
Catharine Macleod, Senior Curator of 17th century Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery
2017
Who really killed the King?
Mr John Cunningham, Chair, RTW Civic Society Local History Group
2016
Dr Richard Busby, Headmaster of Westminster School 1638-95 – Royalist throughout the Commonwealth
Eddie Smith, Formerly Under Master and Archivist, Westminster School
2015
Music in the Chapels Royal of Charles I and his Queen
Professor John Harper, University of Birmingham
2014
The Royal Actor: King Charles 1 “Eikon Basilike” and the Performance of Prayer
Dr Robert Wilcher, Honorary Fellow, Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham
2013
“Comfortable Words”: The Book of Common Prayer and English Literature
Helen Wilcox, Bangor University
2012
George Herbert and the spirituality of the building
Mrs Colleen Wethered, King Charles the Martyr
2011
The King James Version: The First Four Hundred Years
Revd Robert Avery, Vicar of King Charles the Martyr
2010
The three Nineteenth Century Ministers of the King Charles Chapel Tunbridge Wells with particular reference to William Law Pope
David Bushell, King Charles the Martyr
Adam Perkins, Royal Greenwich Observatory
Robert Chitham, Head of Historic Buildings Division, English Heritage
Dr Philip Whitbourn, Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England
Jasper Ridley, Historian and Barrister
Rev Dr Gordon Huelin
John Cooper, Head of Education, National Portrait Gallery
Revd J M Charles-Roux, St Eltheldreda R C Church, Ely Place, City of London
Revd J M Charles-Roux, St Eltheldreda, Ely Place, City of London
Leonard Lassalle, antiques dealer, The Pantiles
Canon Paul Welsby
Andrew Reekes, History Master, Tonbridge School
Anthony Maclean, Senior Extra-Mural Lecturer, University of Kent
Dame Veronica Wedgewood
Frederick Lansbury. University of Kent
Revd Charles Gordon-Clark, Vicar of King Charles the Martyr
J G Parker, Head of History, Tonbridge School