John Dowland Memorial Service

John Dowland, the greatest of all English lutenists and lute composers, was buried on February 20th 1626 in his home parish of St Ann, Blackfriars. When St Ann and its graveyard were destroyed in 1666, the adjoining parish of St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe assumed St Ann's parochial obligations. At 1pm on Friday February 20th 2026, The Lute Society and St Andrew's will jointly mark the 400th anniversary of Dowland's funeral with a memorial service "Remembering John Dowland". The service will feature Dowland's music performed by Dowland's Foundry and Sam Brown, and C17th readings. This service will be open to the public and free to attend, with a retiring collection for St Andrew's and the Lute Society.