FULTON — The Nationwide Churchill Museum highlighted Mid-Missouri’s connection to the British royal household throughout King Charles III’s coronation.
The museum rang the historic bells of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury for 2 minutes at 11:00 a.m.
Saturday is the primary time the church bells in Fulton have rang for a royal coronation in america.
“It truly is one thing that does not occur fairly often,” museum director Timothy Riley mentioned. “When it does there’s lots of pomp and circumstance surrounding it.”
The ringing of the bells drew a handful of observers, together with Laura Abernathy Huffman of Pulaski County. Huffman mentioned she was in Fulton for the Morels and Microbrews Pageant and was “completely thrilled” to see the church bells ring.
“Oh it was lovely,” Huffman mentioned. “I seen every part round us sort of received quieter there.”
Huffman mentioned she watched the coronation ceremony in London on TV this morning earlier than visiting Fulton. She mentioned it felt like “dwelling historical past” to see the bells ring.
Based on Riley, the museum has a private connection to the brand new king. In honor of the coronation, Riley displayed a letter then Prince Charles despatched the museum after it is fiftieth anniversary in 2019. Charles mentioned within the letter he hoped the church would proceed to obtain assist.
“[The church] represents the essence of the human spirit, and our distinctive capacity to beat tragedy having fairly actually been raised from the ashes ” Charles wrote. “It due to this fact offers me nice pleasure the church stands proudly re-hallowed in Fulton, Missouri.”
The church is related to the royal household’s historical past. Inbuilt twelfth century England, it burned down within the Nice Fireplace of London in 1666. Based on Riley, King Charles II ordered the church to be repaired.
It was rebuilt underneath the path of architect Christopher Wren and stood for 300 years till is was bombed throughout the The Blitz in World Battle II.
What remained was transported brick by brick to Fulton by Westminster School in 1969 to honor Winston Churchill. Churchill delivered his iconic 1946 ‘iron curtain’ speech at Westminster during which he warned the Soviet Union threatened European freedom.
“Our ties to the British monarchy not solely transcend right this moment however again, approach again,” museum director Timothy Riley mentioned. Riley mentioned the royal household’s recognition of the museum places Mid-Missouri on the world stage.
The museum is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on daily basis of the week.