Church is home to biggest collection of clown memorabilia

A north London church is home to the world’s biggest collection of clown memorabilia and is known as the ‘spiritual home of clowns’.

The collection, which includes replicas of famous clowns’ makeup painted onto miniature clown heads made from eggshells, is owned by Clowns International.

It was started in 1959, and keeps growing as clowns around the world donate items to the ‘Aladdin’s cave’ of memorabilia.

They might be a little big: The museum’s curator Mattie Faint holds up a large pair of black and yellow clown shoes 

The director of the museum in London said: 'It's impossible to say how many pieces there are. There must be thousands'

The director of the museum in London said: ‘It’s impossible to say how many pieces there are. There must be thousands’

The church used to hold services including the annual clown's remembrance service for Joseph Grimaldi, known as the father of clowning

The church used to hold services including the annual clown’s remembrance service for Joseph Grimaldi, known as the father of clowning

Clowning around: Mattie Faint, the curator at the Clown Gallery, holding some clown shoes as he is surrounded by clown artwork

Clowning around: Mattie Faint, the curator at the Clown Gallery, holding some clown shoes as he is surrounded by clown artwork

Mr Faint explained that last year they were left a number of clown costumes: 'We had a clown die last year, he left us eight costumes, eight pairs of shoes, props, wigs - his whole life basically'

Mr Faint explained that last year they were left a number of clown costumes: ‘We had a clown die last year, he left us eight costumes, eight pairs of shoes, props, wigs – his whole life basically’

Mattie Faint, 65, also known as Mattie the Clown, has been director of the museum at the Holy Trinity Church in Dalston, North London, for 31 years.

He said: ‘It’s impossible to say how many pieces there are. There must be thousands.

‘We had a clown die last year, he left us eight costumes, eight pairs of shoes, props, wigs – his whole life basically. Just to give you an idea.

Church of England church Holy Trinity is now free to host the pictures and paintings of clowns that make up the museum, or 'Clowns' Gallery'

Church of England church Holy Trinity is now free to host the pictures and paintings of clowns that make up the museum, or ‘Clowns’ Gallery’

The collection was started in 1959, and keeps growing as clowns around the world donate items to the "Aladdin's cave" of memorabilia

The collection was started in 1959, and keeps growing as clowns around the world donate items to the “Aladdin’s cave” of memorabilia

 Mattie Faint, 65, also known as Mattie the Clown, has been director of the museum at the Holy Trinity Church in North London for 31 years

 Mattie Faint, 65, also known as Mattie the Clown, has been director of the museum at the Holy Trinity Church in North London for 31 years

Mr Faint said: 'The clown church - our spiritual home - has its own clown stained glass window and is like an Aladdin's cave'

Mr Faint said: ‘The clown church – our spiritual home – has its own clown stained glass window and is like an Aladdin’s cave’

The clown egg display at the Clown Gallery in Holy Trinity Church in Dalston, which is home to the world's biggest collection of clown memorabilia

The clown egg display at the Clown Gallery in Holy Trinity Church in Dalston, which is home to the world’s biggest collection of clown memorabilia

Mr Faint explains people's shock when they see the collection: 'I open a little church door on a backstreet in London and there's all of this inside. People's mouths just drop open'

Mr Faint explains people’s shock when they see the collection: ‘I open a little church door on a backstreet in London and there’s all of this inside. People’s mouths just drop open’

‘The clown church – our spiritual home – has its own clown stained glass window and is like an Aladdin’s cave.

‘I open a little church door on a backstreet in London and there’s all of this inside. People’s mouths just drop open.

‘I’ve got three church rooms full here. I’ve got the old organ room, the vestibule, and the crypt – which is actually a 1980s boiler room and I hang costumes from the pipes.’

A colourful pile of large clown shoes at the church in London, which is known as the 'spiritual home of clowns'

A colourful pile of large clown shoes at the church in London, which is known as the ‘spiritual home of clowns’

The blue door exterior of the Clown Gallery in Holy Trinity Church in Dalston, with a poster which hints towards the clown collection inside

The blue door exterior of the Clown Gallery in Holy Trinity Church in Dalston, with a poster which hints towards the clown collection inside

Church director Mattie Faint, who used to entertain at the Great Ormond Street Hospital, with the clown egg display in a room filled with clown paraphernalia 

Church director Mattie Faint, who used to entertain at the Great Ormond Street Hospital, with the clown egg display in a room filled with clown paraphernalia 

The museum incorporates many costumes and props with thousands of artifacts from the world of clowning and is a museum, gallery, archive and reference library on clowning

The museum incorporates many costumes and props with thousands of artifacts from the world of clowning and is a museum, gallery, archive and reference library on clowning

The church used to hold services including the annual clown’s remembrance service for Joseph Grimaldi, known as the father of clowning, who was buried at the nearby St James Church, Islington, which burned down in 1959.

However, services are now held at a bigger local church, All Saints, to accommodate the 650 clowns that turned up to this year’s ceremony on February 4.

Church of England church Holy Trinity is now free to host the pictures and paintings of clowns that make up the museum, or ‘Clowns’ Gallery’.

Perfectly ordered: The curator adjusts some of the artwork adorning the walls in the eccentric church in London

Perfectly ordered: The curator adjusts some of the artwork adorning the walls in the eccentric church in London

The proud director said: 'In the collection, we have an 1880 pantomime costume that's in very good condition'

The proud director said: ‘In the collection, we have an 1880 pantomime costume that’s in very good condition’

A display dedicated to famous London clown Joseph Grimaldi, who was an actor, dancer and comedian, and died in 1837

A display dedicated to famous London clown Joseph Grimaldi, who was an actor, dancer and comedian, and died in 1837

The vast and impressive clown collection in the church located in Dalston, north London, is owned by Clowns International

The vast and impressive clown collection in the church located in Dalston, north London, is owned by Clowns International

The collection was started in 1959, and keeps growing as clowns around the world donate items to the 'Aladdin's cave' of memorabilia

The collection was started in 1959, and keeps growing as clowns around the world donate items to the ‘Aladdin’s cave’ of memorabilia

The museum incorporates many costumes and props with thousands of artifacts from the world of clowning and is a museum, gallery, archive and reference library on clowning.

Mr Faint, who has been a clown for 47 years and used to entertain children at Great Ormond Street Hospital, said: ‘In the collection, we have an 1880 pantomime costume that’s in very good condition.

‘I have a sequined overjacket which would have been worn in the finale of a circus.’



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