The Glorious Fifth – the Fifth of November

The Glorious Revolution of 1688, which shaped our Parliamentary Democratic Constitution and ensured a foundation for the freedoms we still enjoy today began when William Prince of Orange set foot in England on 5 November 1688.

The landing has been marked since and this year we will be going online to commemorate the events leading up to Williams successful claim to the throne. While known as the bloodless revolutions and aside from the Battle of Reading there were no real battles in England, we are well aware of the loss of life and the sacrifices made by his supporters in Ireland.

The Glorious 5th November marks not only this Great Deliverance from ‘Popery and Arbitrary Power’ with the creation of a balanced Constitutional monarchy with the place of Parliament established and the path to democracy set; but also the deliverance from the Gunpowder Plot earlier in the century.

Traditionally Orange Lodges would meet on or close to this date to commemorate the events, that double deliverance of what was to become our British democracy. With COVID Restrictions we are taking this opportunity to mark this traditional anniversary at home with a commemorative dinner and then a traditional bonfire night.