A fellowship of shared inheritance

England is not one story but many, held by each of us and passed on by us all. Our society exists to bring people together in that inheritance of language, landscape and tradition.

We hold that heritage is something we keep for one another, not apart from one another. It belongs in village halls and parish churches, in farmyards, offices and market squares, in the ordinary places where we meet.

Our charity was first formed in 2010 by a group of English people based in the West Country, who had a shared love of all things Wessex. These original members have nearly all departed, and the current trustees have only recently taken over. We wish to give our society a new lease of life, so we have broadened our charity’s aims to advance the public understanding of the history and culture of England as a whole, not just Wessex. We are keen though to ensure all those from the Royal House of Wessex to the present day are included in our stories.

To remind the English people that we all have a shared heritage and history, and that these precious gifts are worth preserving and passing on to future generations.

Derek Hilling, trustee

Eleven Centuries

Eleven centuries

From one kingdom made whole to the eleven hundredth year of its making.

  1. 927

    Æthelstan unites the English kingdoms. England begins.

  2. 937

    The Battle of Brunanburh. The union holds.

  3. 973

    Edgar is crowned at Bath, the ceremony still echoed in coronations today.

  4. 1066

    Conquest. The kingdom changes hands but does not come apart.

  5. 1215

    Magna Carta. The idea that even a king answers to something.

  6. 2027

    Eleven hundred years. The Birth of England Project.

What we do

Fellowship

We bring people together who share an interest in the story of England and the English people. We will do this regardless of their background or circumstances. Through gatherings, correspondence and shared projects, our Society exists as much in the friendships between its members and supporters, as in anything it publishes or builds. Ours is first and foremost a fellowship of the mind, of a shared experience, often unspoken.

Heritage

We take an active interest in the places, objects and traditions that carry England's history forward, from places of work to places of worship. From crafts and texts to songs and customs. Where our Englishness is at risk of being forgotten, we would rather it be kept alive through continued use than solidify behind museum glass.

Community

Our work is rooted in ordinary places rather than institutions, the village hall as much as the university. We believe England's story belongs to the people who live it, not to those who study it from a distance.

The Great Seal

  • All trustees and members of the English Fellowship & Cultural Society do hereby pledge that:
  • we believe that the English people have shared experiences which amount to a common culture, the same principle as would apply to other nations
  • we shall endeavour to preserve the collective history and culture of the English people in order to help build a bond of fellowship amongst all English people
  • we shall not be afraid to celebrate the notable achievements of the English people whenever the occasion is appropriate
  • we shall work with other people and groups who share a similar love for the English and England
  • we shall put the long term interest of preserving our culture and heritage before the interests of any one person or group

Sealed in fellowship