Following a recent change (March 2021) in the Government’s ruling on the flying of the Union Flag from public buildings, St Peter’s Church in Marlborough will from now on, starting on Easter Sunday 2021, be flying the Union Flag as a matter of course when no other specific flag is being flown from the Tower. On those occasions when the Union Flag marks a particular event (e.g. The Queen’s Birthday or Commonwealth Day ) no flag will normally be flown the preceding day.
1. A Church of England church is, strictly speaking, permitted to fly only one flag and that is of St George, the Patron Saint of England. However, as a redundant church, St Peter’s is fortunately exempt from this restriction.
2. Currently, St Peter’s has a panoply of 25 flags, which are flown on the appropriate days of the year. See the Schedule of Flags Flying further down this page. In addition, there is a “Flag of the Day” information board inside the church portal explaining the flag currently flying.
3. Weather permitting, the Tower Constable raises the flag by 9:00 am and lowers it at 6:00pm on the day.
4. A list of all the flag flying days with details of each flag is available online below.
5. Many of the flags have been hand-made by David Sherratt, who also maintains the flags in a good state of repair. Occasionally, if the weather is severe we have to forego flag flying to avoid damage to the flags.
The Union Flag is flown as a matter of course when no other specific flag is being flown from the Tower.
This flag is being flown for Australia Day
This flag is being flown for Waitangi Day
This flag is being flown for the anniversary of the Assession of HM the Queen (1952)
This flag is being flown for St David’s Day
This flag is being flown for the anniversary of the Ordination of Thomas Wolsey (1498)
Why? On those occasions when the Union Flag marks a particular event (e.g. The Queen’s Birthday or Commonwealth Day ) no flag will normally be flown the preceding day.
This flag is being flown for Commonwealth Day
This flag is being flown for St Patrick’s Day
This flag is being flown for the anniversary of the George Cross being awarded to Malta (1942)
This flag is being flown for the Birthday of HM the Queen (1926)
This flag is being flown for the (Putative) Birthday of William Shakespeare (1564)
This flag is being flown for St George’s Day
This flag is being flown to commemorate the Battle of Ethandun (AD878)
This flag is being flown for Marlborough Charter Day (Queen Elizabeth I) (1576)
This flag is being flown for Wessex Day
We are flying the White Ensign to celebrate the anniversary of HMS Marlborough formerly being adopted by the Town
This flag is being flown to mark the Coronation of HM The Queen (1953)
This flag is being flown to mark the Official Birthday of HM the Queen
This flag is being flown to commemorate the Sealing of the Magna Carta (1215)
This flag is being flown to commemorate Waterloo Day
We are flying this flag to commemorate Marlborough Charter Day (King John 1204)
This flag is being flown to commemorate Armed Forces Day
This flay is being flown to commemorate the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul
We are flying this flag to celebrate Canada Day
We are flying this flag to celebrate American Independence Day
We are flying this flag for Merchant Navy Day
This flag is being flown for Battle of Britain Week
We are flying this flag for Trafalgar Day (1805)
This flag is being flown for St. Crispin’s Day (Battle of Agincourt 1415)
We fly this flag for Armistice Day (1918)
This flag is being flown for HRH Prince of Wales’ Birthday
This flag is being flown for Remembrance Sunday
We fly this flag on the anniversary of the Death of Cardinal Wolsey (1530)
This flag is flown for St Andrew’s Day
This is a test for development purposes
26th of January
Australia Day
5th of February
Waitangi Day
6th of February
Accession of HM the Queen (1952)
1st of March
St. David’s Day
March (date varies)
Commonwealth Day
10th of March
Ordination of Thomas Wolsey (1498)
17th of March
St. Patrick’s Day
15th of April
George Cross awarded to Malta (1942)
21st of April
Birthday of HM the Queen (1926)
22nd of April
(Putative) Birthday of William Shakespeare (1564)
23rd of April
St. George’s Day
7th of May
Battle of Ethandun (AD878)
19th of May
Marlborough Charter Day (Queen Elizabeth I) (1576)
25th of May
Wessex Day
30th of May
HMS Marlborough formerly adopted by the Town
2nd of June
Coronation of HM The Queen (1953)
June (date variable)
Armed Forces Day
June (date variable)
Official Birthday of HM the Queen
15th of June
Sealing of the Magna Carta (1215)
18th of June
Waterloo Day
20th of June
Marlborough Charter Day (King John 1204)
29th of June
Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul
July (date variable)
Sea Sunday
1st of July
Canada Day
4th of July
American Independence Day
3rd of September
Merchant Navy Day
6th to 15th of September
Battle of Britain Week
21st of October
Trafalgar Day (1805)
25th of October
St. Crispin’s Day (Battle of Agincourt 1415)
November (date variable)
Remembrance Sunday
11th of November
Armistice Day (1918)
14th of November
HRH Prince of Wales’ Birthday
29th of November
Death of Cardinal Wolsey (1530)
30th of November
St. Andrew’s Day
Date Variable
Major Papal events (e.g. visit by Pope to UK)