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| People entering Westminster Abbey for one of the many services held on 8th May 1945, VE Day |
On Friday our nation will be recalling the end of World War
Two seventy five years ago on May 8th 1945. I think the Queen is making a broadcast at
9pm, the same time her father spoke to the nation on that day of celebration.
London saw over a million people on the streets, cheering and rejoicing at the end of so many years of struggle and sorrow. I suspect this Friday London will be far emptier than seventy five years ago.
Winston Churchill made his historic broadcast, announcing VE Day, at 3pm on May 8th. Yet, this news had been widely expected and Westminster Abbey already had service sheets printed. It was decided to hold ‘rolling services’ at the Abbey that Friday from 9am to 10pm and no less than 25,000 attended throughout the day; including the Lord Chancellor and the entire House of Lords at 3pm. Churchill led the House of Commons to a service of thanksgiving, held at the Parliamentary Church of St Margaret’s next to the Abbey.
I’m just struck, and rather thrilled, with the idea that so many people wanted to attend one of those services on such a day.
I’m equally impressed by one of the prayers printed on that Abbey service sheet. It talks of offering, ‘high praise and thanksgiving to God…for the skills of our leaders and valour and steadfastness of sailors, soldiers and airman…for the hope that we are about to enter upon a righteous and abiding peace’.
Social scientists and commentators still debate whether the so called ‘Long Peace’ that has ensued since the end of WWII really does constitute a trend away from war. However, whatever has happened since VE Day doesnt take away from the horrors of the first half of the 20th Century with some witnessing not one, but two World Wars.
This weekend we are giving thanks for the end of a brutal conflict, and like those before us, our prayer and hope is for an ‘abiding peace’.
May God’s blessing and joy be yours today in all you do.
Ian
London saw over a million people on the streets, cheering and rejoicing at the end of so many years of struggle and sorrow. I suspect this Friday London will be far emptier than seventy five years ago.
Winston Churchill made his historic broadcast, announcing VE Day, at 3pm on May 8th. Yet, this news had been widely expected and Westminster Abbey already had service sheets printed. It was decided to hold ‘rolling services’ at the Abbey that Friday from 9am to 10pm and no less than 25,000 attended throughout the day; including the Lord Chancellor and the entire House of Lords at 3pm. Churchill led the House of Commons to a service of thanksgiving, held at the Parliamentary Church of St Margaret’s next to the Abbey.
I’m just struck, and rather thrilled, with the idea that so many people wanted to attend one of those services on such a day.
I’m equally impressed by one of the prayers printed on that Abbey service sheet. It talks of offering, ‘high praise and thanksgiving to God…for the skills of our leaders and valour and steadfastness of sailors, soldiers and airman…for the hope that we are about to enter upon a righteous and abiding peace’.
Social scientists and commentators still debate whether the so called ‘Long Peace’ that has ensued since the end of WWII really does constitute a trend away from war. However, whatever has happened since VE Day doesnt take away from the horrors of the first half of the 20th Century with some witnessing not one, but two World Wars.
This weekend we are giving thanks for the end of a brutal conflict, and like those before us, our prayer and hope is for an ‘abiding peace’.
May God’s blessing and joy be yours today in all you do.
Ian
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