St James Church is the parish church of Hebden Bridge, situated a little way out of the town centre. My younger granddaughter is a pupil at the primary school linked to the church. She's joined the worship group and so she was involved in the Remembrance Sunday service at the church. Later, people gathered around the town's war memorial for a short Act of Remembrance led by Rev'd Ruthi Gibbons and Rev'd Canon Major David Banbury (Ret'd). We observed two minutes silence at 11am, as is traditional. Hebden Bridge Band played a few hymns and, after the laying of poppy wreaths, there were prayers.
It always seems rather touching that this same act is happening in churches, cathedrals, parks and town squares all over the country at the same time, with congregations large and small. This year marks 80 years since the audacious D-Day Operation Overlord, in the Second World War, when thousands of allied troops stormed the Normandy beaches and subsequently delivered peace on the Western Front. These days, of course, we also reflect on many subsequent wars and pray for peace in the world's current trouble spots.
Remembrance Day itself is always marked at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month (today), which is the actual day that the Armistice was signed to end the First World War.
After a couple of weeks of dry, mild weather, it reverted to type with a damp, drizzly and rather cold day... but then, that's usual for Remembrance Sunday and somehow it wouldn't feel right if it wasn't like that!
The little Memorial Garden is surrounded by rather wonderful beech trees, and I enjoyed the colouring and shape of the one by the gate.
That's quite a turn-out for a remembrance ceremony. Good for them in the yukky weather. Today the 11th hour will happen slowly as the world turns in it's steady pace, and as we remember the souls who fought for our freedoms many will, perhaps, have a moment to join me in wishing for world peace.
ReplyDeleteWe had all the remembrance ceremonies today at 11 am. I think it was raining in Ottawa where the main functions took place.
ReplyDeleteYes we also have Remembrance Day ceremonies. There is one at the cenotaph in Springwood Park and we have our own little ceremony in the village. Love the big beech Tree.
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