Remember Remember the Fifth of November

The Fifth of November holds a unique and sacred place in the British Protestant calendar, marking a double deliverance that shaped the course of our national and religious identity. It is a day that commemorates both the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 and the providential landing of King William III at Brixham in 1688—two events that stand as enduring symbols of liberty, Protestant faith, and constitutional government.

The Gunpowder Plot: Deliverance from Tyranny

On the night of 5 November 1605, a group of Roman Catholic conspirators led by Robert Catesby sought to destroy the Protestant-led Parliament and assassinate King James I. Their aim was to restore a Catholic monarchy by detonating barrels of gunpowder beneath the House of Lords. Providentially, the plot was uncovered, and Guy Fawkes was arrested guarding the explosives. The nation rejoiced in its deliverance, and Parliament declared 5 November a day of thanksgiving—a tradition that endured for centuries.

The Glorious Revolution: The Protestant Champion Arrives

Eighty-three years later, on 5 November 1688, William of Orange landed at Brixham, Devon, in response to an invitation from English nobles to rescue the nation from the tyranny of James II. William’s arrival marked the beginning of the Glorious Revolution, a bloodless overthrow that secured Protestant succession, parliamentary sovereignty, and religious liberty. His landing on that day was seen as a divine intervention, a second deliverance from popery and absolutism.

A Providential Heritage

For generations, Protestant Britain celebrated 5 November as a day of national thanksgiving. Bonfires blazed, sermons were preached, and communities gathered to remember God’s providential hand in preserving the Protestant faith. The Rule and Ordinances of the Orange Institution affirm the importance of this date, placing it alongside the Twelfth of July as a cornerstone of our commemorative tradition.

Reviving the Flame: Remember November Festival

In recent years, the Independent Loyal Orange Institution has taken bold steps to restore the rightful place of 5 November in our cultural and spiritual life. Our Remember November Festival is a vibrant expression of this revival—combining solemn remembrance with joyful celebration. Through pageantry, public witness, historical education, and community bonfires, we are reawakening a tradition that speaks to our deepest convictions.

This initiative is not confined to Ulster. We are forging new links with brethren across the United Kingdom, encouraging lodges and communities to reclaim this heritage. From England to Scotland, the call to remember our deliverances is being heard anew.

Lewis: A Beacon of Protestant Memory

Last year, members of the ILOI undertook a study visit to the Lewes, where Bonfire Night is marked with striking fervour and historical depth. The Lewis commemoration centres on the memory of 17 Protestant martyrs who were burnt to death for refusing to renounce their faith. Their sacrifice is remembered with solemnity and fire.

The burning of the Pope in effigy remains a powerful symbol of resistance to tyranny and false religion. It is not an act of hatred, but a dramatic reminder of the cost of conscience and the triumph of truth. The Lewes Bonfire Night, with its torchlit processions, acts of remembrance, and community gathering, has inspired our own Remember November Festival in McNeillstown.

There, we have embraced the Lewes model—combining historical education, public testimony, and symbolic fire to honour our forebears and proclaim our faith. The connections forged in fire between Ulster and the England are more than cultural; they are spiritual bonds, rooted in shared memory and common purpose.

As we look to the future, we do so with renewed confidence that the Fifth of November will once again shine brightly in the Protestant calendar—a day of remembrance, thanksgiving, and resolve.