The Angel & Royal

The Angel, or The Angel & Royal since 1866, is one of the oldest pubs in Grantham. It once played host to King John as well as King Richard III, who might have signed his cousin the Duke of Buckingham’s death warrant in what is now called the King’s Room. A grand old establishment it is, but with that age and royal association comes bloodshed and strife.

‘Angel’ in Greek and Hebrew means messenger. The Bible has no time for the sentential, bewinged, fat children who defy the laws of physics by fluttering on our Christmas cards and old tombstones; angels are powerful, super-intelligent beings who not infrequently execute God’s righteous judgements and bear His dread warrants. For example:

The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. Revelation 8:7, NKJV

They barred Eden to Adam and Eve and struck Jerusalem at the time of David. When one fully appreciates the angelic world’s role in punishing the earth, the angels’ proclamation in Luke chapter 2 becomes all the more remarkable:

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord”.