When The English Invented Thanksgiving In 1605

On November 5, 1605, England narrowly escaped what would have been the most catastrophic terrorist attack in its history. The Gunpowder Plot, a conspiracy led by Catholic dissidents to assassinate King James I and destroy Parliament, was discovered mere hours before execution. The plot's failure led to the passage of the Observance of 5th November Act 1605, formally titled "An Act for a public Thanksgiving to Almighty God every Year on the Fifth Day of November."

The act, referenced as 3° Jac. I. c. 1, 2 in the parliamentary record, was passed in the immediate aftermath of the conspiracy's discovery. King James I, described in the legislation as "the most clear and religious King that ever reigned," had assembled with Queen Anne, Prince Henry, and all members of both Houses of Parliament on that fateful November day. Beneath the House of Lords, conspirators had positioned thirty-six barrels of gunpowder, enough to reduce the building and everyone inside to rubble.

The plot was masterminded by Robert Catesby, with Guy Fawkes serving as the explosives expert who would light the fuse. The conspirators sought to kill the Protestant king and parliamentary leadership, install a Catholic monarch, and reverse England's religious settlement. The discovery of the plot through an anonymous warning letter sent to Lord Monteagle prevented what the act describes as the intended "utter ruin and destruction" of the realm.

An Act for a public Thanksgiving to Almighty God every Year on the Fifth Day of November.

FORASMUCH as Almighty God hath in all ages shewed his power and mercy in the miraculous and gracious deliverance of his Church; and in the protection of religious Kings and States; and that no Nation of the Earth hath been blessed with greater benefit than this Kingdom now enjoyeth, having the true and free profession of the Gospel under our most gracious Sovereign Lord King James, the most clear and religious King that ever reigned; and being defended under the whole body of his realm from foreign invasion and secret treachery at home, and by the discovery of the late treason, which would have brought the same to utter ruin and destruction:

And whereas when the King’s most excellent Majesty, the Queen, the Prince, and all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, had assembled and met together in the Upper House of Parliament upon the fifth day of November in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred and five, suddenly by the great and most mischievous treason of divers papists, Jesuits and seminary priests, and others of that wicked and devilish disposition, all the whole house, with the King’s most royal person, should have been blown up and destroyed, and all his faithful subjects present in that place, with most barbarous cruelty; had not Almighty God, by his divine providence, miraculously discovered and prevented the same, and in mercy delivered them from the mischief intended against them, to the great joy and comfort of all faithful and obedient subjects:

Be it therefore enacted by the King’s most excellent Majesty, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That all and singular Ministers in every Cathedral and Parish Church or other usual place for Common Prayer within this Realm of England and the Dominions of the same, shall always upon the fifth day of November say Morning Prayer and give unto Almighty God thanks for this most happy deliverance.

And that all and every person inhabiting within this realm of England and the Dominions of the same, shall always upon that day diligently and faithfully resort to the Parish Church or Chapel accustomed, or to some usual Church or Chapel where the said Morning Prayer, Preaching, or other Service of God shall be used, and then and there abide orderly and soberly during the time of the said Prayers, Preaching, or other Service of God, there to give thanks to Almighty God for the said great benefit.

And also be it enacted, That every Minister shall give warning to his Parishioners publicly in the Church at Morning Prayer the Sunday before every such fifth day of November, for the due observation of the said day.

And that after Morning Prayer or Preaching upon the said fifth day of November, they read this present Act, and render thanks to Almighty God for his great and marvellous deliverance.