Lest We Forget: Remembrance Day Commemorations Across Our Diocese

Parishes, schools and chaplaincies across our diocese marked Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day in a variety of commemorations. These occasions enabled members of our congregations, local communities and schools to come together to honour the sacrifices of those who served in times of conflict and to pray for peace in our world today.

From poignant services and moments of silence to creative displays and acts of remembrance, each marked the significance of these historic days.

A Service of Remembrance was held at Manchester Cathedral, and was attended by members of the Manchester Regiment and Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.

Parishes across the diocese created beautiful artistic tributes for their Remembrance services, including those pictured below:

• At St Katharine’s Church, Blackrod, the Stitch and Knit group handcrafted 300 poppies for a striking display.
• The font at St Mark’s Church, Chadderton was thoughtfully decorated ahead of their Remembrance services.
• St Mary’s Church, Droylsden was adorned with poppies for Sunday’s service, during which the two minutes’ silence was led by children from St Mary’s CofE Primary School.

Remembrance Sunday was observed at Manchester Airport where more than 20 wreaths were laid at the five military memorials in the Garden of Remembrance.

Remembrance Reflections

Bishop Matthew reflected on the importance of remembering in his regular column in the Bolton News, read it here.

Our Transforming Prayer Community shared this reflection is from The Revd Julian Heaton, Rector, St Mary the Virgin, Bury:

God will judge between the nations and settle disputes of mighty nations, which are far away. They will beat their swords into iron ploughs and their spears into pruning tools. Nation will not take up sword against nation; they will no longer learn how to make war. Micah 4.3

We read this passage on Remembrance Sunday and pray for industry to re-purpose its tools for peaceful ends. So we should. But we should also look into our hearts and note those times when our words, thoughts and deeds, our likes on Social Media and our conversations with friends contribute to rather than absorb the anger, fear and anxiety that feeds distrust, hate and violence. We should practice shalom. We should learn to be people of peace.

What would being a person of peace look like in you today?

Children’s Activities

Finally, children were encouraged to pray for those affected by conflict using this prayer activity created by the Transforming Prayer Community.