Perhaps one of the lesser known feast days, St Clement’s day celebrated on 23rd November (though dates vary by country), commemorates Pope Clement I. Little is known about Clement with no record of his birth and his death is believed to have been between 99 and 101 AD. He was one of the early bishops of Rome and reigned c 92 to c 99 AD. A number of writings have been attributed to him but it is generally accepted that only his first epistle is genuinely by him. This document is considered to be the earliest Christian writing outside of the New testament of the Bible.
Legend has it he was martyred when he was thrown into the sea with an anchor tied around his neck. Following this a congregation of followers gathered to mourn and pray for him and as they did the sea parted revealing a chapel and tomb containing his body and at the side of the tomb was the anchor.
Like most saints he has been adopted as a patron saint and is patron saint of balacksmiths and metal workers who traditionally took a holiday on his feast day. The celebrations in some parts would begin with the smiths going around the towns and villages with an apprentice dressed in a wig and cloak representing Old Clem, collecting money to provide for food and drink in the evening. The evening may start with the ‘firing of the anvil’ where a small charge of gunpowder was placed in a hole at the top of the anvil and struck with a hammer. The resulting sparks igniting the powered and causing a small explosion. Though the practice of observing Old Clem largely died out in the 20th century the celebrations are still observed in a few villages in southern England, with the National Trust Property Finch Foundry in Devon observing St Clement’s Day on Saturday 21st November this year.