Guide to services in your area as bishops honour the fallen ahead of Remembrance Sunday
The courage of former soldiers and the horror of battlefield deaths have been recalled by Suffolk’s bishops ahead of Remembrance Sunday.
The Rt Rev Dr Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, and the Rt Rev Dr Mike Harrison, Bishop of Dunwich, are taking part in commemorations throughout the county.
Bishop Mike said: ‘‘This is a time to give tribute to the millions who were lost or participated in the war whether on the battlefield or the home front. We remember both the gallantry, courage and sacrifice, but also the horror and awfulness.’’
Bishop Martin, who attends the Ipswich Cenotaph service in Christchurch Park on Sunday, said: ‘‘Everywhere I go in Suffolk there are extraordinary acts of Remembrance, in schools, churches and community centres, with a powerful profusion of poppies cascading across our county.
‘‘In each place people are connecting with stories of someone in their family or community who fought in the Great War.
“I am struck by what these stories tell us about qualities of courage and sacrifice, of selflessness and endurance, of looking out for each other – friend and stranger – and pulling together.
‘‘They are qualities that sustained and strengthened our communities through the appalling experiences of the Great War, and they are qualities for us to treasure today.’’
Bishop Martin preached at the Lord Lieutenant’s Eve of Peace service in St Edmundsbury Cathedral, in Bury St Edmunds.
Bishop Mike said: ‘‘The church bells rang out on Armistice Day marking the end of the first world war – it is what one might call a broken hallelujah – a celebration that war was over and also a mournful sounding of the loss suffered.’’
A new war memorial in Red Lodge, which was installed following a community campaign, was dedicated in a special ceremony on Wednesday.
Bishop Mike led the ceremony and there was a small procession from St Christopher’s Primary School to the new memorial.
A group including representatives from Forest Heath District Council, Red Lodge Parish Council as well as the school and church led the fund-raising.
Goymour Homes gave permission to site the memorial on the grass land it owns on the corner of Heatherset Way and Warren Road
It is ready for the Remembrance Day service which starts from 10.15pm.
Services in your area:
Bury St Edmunds
Saturday, November 10
2.30pm: Service and wreath laying in Rose Garden, Abbey Gardens
Sunday, November 11
10.40am: Service and wreath laying at Angel Hill war memorial
3pm: Bury St Edmunds Quakers wreath laying at Angel Hill war memorial
Mildenhall
Sunday, November 11
10am: Service at King Street war memorial
Stowmarket
Sunday, November 11
9.30am: Service at St Peter & St Mary’s Parish Church
10.50am: Short service in Market Place
Brandon
Sunday, November 11
9.30am: Parade forms up at leisure centre to march to St Peter’s Church at 9.45am
Thetford
Sunday, November 11
11am: Service and parade at Market Square.
Woolpit
Sunday, November 11
10.50am: Service including an act of remembrance at the war memorial
Stanton
Sunday, November 11
10.50am: Service at war memorial, in Old Bury Road
Ixworth
Sunday, November 11
10.50am: Service at St Mary’s Church followed by entertainment and exhibition at Ixworth Free School (a free bus service, supplied by Mulleys Motorways, will be available leaving St Mary’s Church at 12.15pm and will return at 7.15pm) - pre booked two course roast lunches are available at a cost of £7.50, bookings in advance on 01359 230691
West Row
Saturday, November 10
10.30am: RBL wreath laying at the war memorial
Sunday, November 11
10.30am: Wreath laying at the war memorial
10.50am: Service at St Peter’s Church
Chedburgh
Sunday, November 11
5.45pm to 5.55pm: Service at The Erskine Centre
Elmswell
Sunday, November 11
10.30am: Service at St John the Divine Church and wreaths placed on the war memorial
Great Ashfield
Sunday, November 11
10.45am: Service at All Saints’ Church
- For more Remembrance coverage, see today's Bury Free Press newspaper.
