VE Day – Carlisle Cathedral

Lighting up red, white and blue, commemorative worship, music, bunting and bellringing – all our cathedrals are getting ready to remember, reflect and give thanks to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for peace in our times.

VE DAY 80 – join us in a shared moment of celebration and remembrance.

Carlisle Cathedral will hold a special service of Choral Evensong to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Allied Victory in Europe in 1945.

For more about the 80th Anniversary of VE Day and the events taking place click here.

The service will be led by The Dean of Carlisle, The Very Revd Jonathan Brewster, the Blessing pronounced by the Acting Bishop of Carlisle, The Rt Revd Rob Saner-Haigj, and civic dignitaries including the Mayor of Carlisle and HM Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria.

The Dean said:

‘The gathering will provide an opportunity to join with others from across our communities to give thanks to God for the courage and sacrifice of those who helped bring peace to Europe eighty years ago. 

‘As we face the renewed challenges of conflict in our world today, it will also be a time to reflect, to hope, and to commit ourselves once more to the paths of peace and justice.’

Carlisle will join in with the national “Ring Out In Celebration” ringing the cathedral bells from 6.30pm after the service.

The Ring Out event mirrors that same moment, on 8 May 1945, when bells rang out across Britain as the nation took to the streets in celebration of Victory in Europe Day.

The cathedral service is one of a series of events in Carlisle and Cumbria to mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day including wreath laying ceremonies in the city centre and the lighting of a commemorative beacon at Carlisle Castle.

Thursday 8th May will mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe. To commemorate this occasion, the Government has announced an events programme between Bank Holiday Monday (5th May) and VE Day (8th May), culminating in a nationwide celebration of this historic day. You can check out all the events near you by clicking here.