100 years ago, on November 11th 1918, WW1 came to an end at 11 am when Britain, France and Germany signed the Armistice.
At 6am on Remembrance Sunday 2018, a single piper will stand outside every Anglican Cathedral in the country and play the tune ‘Battle’s Over’ to mark the exact time the Armistice was signed in 1918 and signal the finale of the four year commemoration of World War 1.
It is the culmination of four years of events in our Cathedrals – thanks in part to the Government’s World War One Fund which contributed £40m to conserve and repair our buildings to ensure they were ready to host acts of remembrance this Armistice year.
Art exhibitions, flower festivals, music, drama, lectures, and worship – inspired by the centenary of the First World War and re-imagined for the 21stcentury – have all taken place over the last four years in our cathedrals – and other events are planned in the run up to November 11.
The Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge, the Church of England’s lead bishop for churches and cathedrals said:
“Cathedrals are at the forefront of the nation’s acts of remembrance each year, and in 2018 will perform their civic and community duty with added significance, as we mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.”
You can find details of Cathedrals’ events here on this website under the Armistice 2018 drop down menu or go to your local cathedral’s own website.
Prayers will be said as the lone piper plays on November 11 before services, civic events and acts of remembrance take place. Later, at 6.55pm buglers will sound the Last Post at more than 1,000 locations across the country, WW1 beacons of light will burn at 7pm across the country to signify the light of peace that emerged from the four years of war. Then at 7.05pm church and cathedral bells will ring out.
Ringing Out for Peace, is being organised with the assistance of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers and an appeal has gone out to church bell ringers around Britain to join in as organisers want more than 1,000 cathedrals and churches ringing their bells simultaneously at 7.05pm on the night of November 11th 2018.
Pageantmaster and organiser of the Battle’s Over initiative, Bruno Peek said:
“The stirring sound of church and cathedral bells will provide a fitting conclusion to a day of contemplation, commemoration and, ultimately, celebration as the United Kingdom and other nations reflect on events a century ago, on the battlefields of Europe, and at home in our factories and farms.
I hope as many people as possible will join us in the Battle’s Over events to mark the conclusion of the First World War and pay tribute to the loved ones who played their part.”
More information on Battle’s Over – A Nation’s Tribute 11th November 2018, and how to take part, can be found at www.brunopeek.co.uk
Photo: Credit to Luxmuralis and Peter Walker.
