In 1657, diarist Sir John Evelyn recorded an eventful Christmas Day service in Oliver Cromwell’s London. As the congregation came forward for holy communion, soldiers burst in and shortly afterwards marched them off to be cross-examined by Government officials, who wanted to know why they had defied a ban on keeping Christmas Day and on using the Prayer Book.

Evelyn was happy to let the authorities believe that he was merely a fool and not a serious threat, though their sacrilegious talk rankled, and he did not quickly forget the experience of taking communion at gunpoint. When he reached home on the evening of the following day, he blessed God for his deliverance.

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