Remembrance starts at home as cathedrals take their services online following the latest Government guidelines and ask people to join them where they are to remember those we love, those who have died during the pandemic, and those who have given their lives in past conflicts.
Remembrance Day will be a little different this year.
Heroes is the theme for the online service of Remembrance involving school children from across North Yorkshire and led by the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson.
The theme was chosen to reflect not only war heroes, but the heroes of this past year – the keyworkers. The service children of North Yorkshire have contributed artwork and poems to the service, detailing their own personal heroes.
A simple service of thanksgiving and commemoration for Remembrance Sunday will be livestreamed from York Minster on Sunday 8 November. The Archbishop of York, The Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, will preach at the service which will include the act of commemoration and the national two minutes silence. Only those required for the service will be permitted inside the cathedral on the day.
York Minster’s Precentor, Canon Vicky Johnson, said:
“Now more than ever, we must find ways to keep the people of this country connected to the great traditions that have shaped our history and all of our lives.
“Livestreaming this simple service of thanksgiving and commemoration will make it possible for the people of the City of York and the region to be present in real-time, to pay their respects and to give their thanks for the duty and sacrifice of members of our Armed Services past and present.”
Prayers will be said for the Royal Navy, the British Army, the Royal Air Force, Veterans, the Royal British Legion York and the City of York. On the same day at 4pm, a service of Digital Evensong will be broadcast from St John’s Chapel in York Minster.
www.yorkminster.org for details on the day.
The Remembrance Sunday Service from Peterborough Cathedral will be live streamed from the Cathedral via both the City Council and Cathedral Facebook pages and also the Cathedral’s YouTube channel.
The Cathedral will also host a special service of Reflection and Remembrance on Sunday afternoon for those who have died as a result of Covid-19. This again will be live streamed via the Cathedral’s social media channels.
Peterborough has also moved its Covid -19: All We Have Lost prayer trail to the nave so that visitors for private prayer during the lockdown can still see and engage with the prayer stations. It is available during current opening times.
Chichester Cathedral will be live-streaming its Act of Remembrance at 10.55am, including its poppy drop from the Nave.
Gloucester Cathedral has been lit up red for Hope and Remembrance since All Saints Day and will continue to be illuminated until Sunday 15 November and will live stream its Remembrance Day services
join us online here.
Lichfield will stream Sung Eucharist on Sunday morning for Remembrance Sunday with solemn but evocative music and an invitation for individuals to come and pray, light candles or leave prayers on their virtual prayer wall. Lichfield is currently hosting the touring art installation, The Leaves of the Trees, for people to reflect on the impact the Coronavirus pandemic has had on them and their communities and there will be a digital poppy installation inside the Cathedral too.
Both art installations have been created by the Cathedral’s Artist in Residence and Creative Director, Peter Walker.
Truro is inviting people to observe Remembrance at home and leave prayers on their virtual prayer wall.
Durham Cathedral is the first English cathedral to host The Hero’s Poppy – a floral installation with a single bronze penny at its centre based on the design of the pennies sent out to families as a reminder of their loved one’s sacrifice during.
Created by the team behind the Tower of London poppy display in 2014, the poppy will be illuminated in a glass display and situated at the cathedral’s west end from the end of October.
It was launched earlier this year to coincide with VE75 celebrations.
The Reverend Canon Charlie Allen said:
“I am overjoyed that Durham Cathedral has been chosen as the flagship English Cathedral to welcome The Hero’s Poppy in honour of the people of County Durham who have fought and served in any conflict. The bronze poppy is a poignant way to recall the sacrifice of many, and to renew our commitment to a future of hope and peace.”
Durham has called on the local community to join together online for Remembrance this year with a full digital event schedule including a 30 minute digital Festival of Remembrance Concert, in aid of ABF, The Soldier’s Charity this Saturday (7 Nov).
For more information about the cathedral’s opening hours, installations and services visit their website here.
