Villages set for Remembrance Sunday services
Churches around Peasedown St John, Wellow and Shoscombe will be holding special services on Remembrance Sunday, 13th November. Peasedown St John’s annual Remembrance Sunday service will be held in St John’s Parish Church, Church Road.
Starting at the new time of 10.45am, the service will feature presentations from members of the Cubs, Scouts, Brownies, Guides and other uniformed groups.
Last year over 200 people packed the church to remember those who have given their lives in conflict.
Revd Matthew Street, who is chaplain to the uniformed groups in the local area, will be leading the service. Last year, the service remembered the Code Breakers of Bletchley Park, who were instrumental in leading the UK and allied forces to victory in the Second World War. This year, there will be a special focus on the Battle of the Somme, in recognition of its 100th anniversary. The Cub, Scout, Brownie and Guide groups will focus on the role that animals played during the Somme.
Revd Street said:
“Each year it is important to collectively remember those that have laid down their lives for the freedom and civil liberties we all enjoy today.
At this year’s village remembrance service we will especially remember those who fought and gave their lives during the Battle of the Somme, One Hundred Years ago. Over 1,100,000 people were killed, making it one of the most devastating battles in human history.
We shall also take time to read aloud the names of the fallen from Peasedown St John, one by one.”
Wreaths will be laid during the service at the war memorial in the church by members of the uniformed groups, B&NES Cllr Sarah Bevan, Cllr Kathy Thomas – Chairwoman of the Parish Council, and Captain (Retd) Dick Beath late of the Light Infantry.
Prayers will be led by Revd Matthew Street along with B&NES Councillor and Vice Chair of the Parish Council, Karen Walker. Cllr Kathy Thomas will be reading a passage from the Bible.
Meanwhile in St Julian’s Church, Wellow, a trumpeter will lead the Last Post during the Remembrance Service which also starts at 10.45 am.
In St Julian’s Church, Shoscombe, the Remembrance Service will start at 10.00 am, a two-minute silence will be observed with Revd Matthew Street speaking.