The Chapel of St Michael and All Angels
The Service of Remembrance Sunday 8th November 2020 10.45am
The organ music before the service is Nimrod Edward Elgar (1857-1934) and the piper plays Flowers of the Forest (Trad. Scottish)
The Lower Sixth Choir sing the anthem For the Fallen Music: Douglas Guest (1916-1996) Words: Lawrence Binyon (1869-1943) They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.
The Act of Remembrance The Banners are placed on the High Altar after which The Master comes forward and does the same with the Book of Remembrance.
The Chaplain says: Let us remember before God and commend to his sure keeping all those who have died in the service of their country, especially those who were known here and whose memory we now honour. The Wreaths of Poppies are placed by the High Altar. The Chaplain says: They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. All: We will remember them. The Last Post is played and the Two Minutes of Silence follows. At the end of The Silence the Reveille is sounded. The Chaplain says: When you go home tell them of us and say. For your tomorrow, we gave our today.
The National Anthem sung by the Remove Choir God save our gracious Queen! Long live our noble Queen! God save the Queen! Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the Queen. Thy choicest gifts in store On her be pleased to pour, Long may she reign. May she defend our laws, And give us ever cause, To sing with heart and voice, God save the Queen.
Words: Anonymous Music: Thomas Augustine Arne (1710-1778)
The following prayer is said: Ever-living God, we remember those whom you have gathered from the storm of war into the peace of your presence; may that same peace calm our fears, bring justice to all peoples and establish harmony among the nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, now and forever. Amen.
A Reading from The Gospel according to John: Read by Cadet RSM Edwards G P (C2 U6) Head of Corps.
Jesus said: ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.’ Thanks be to God.
The Homily given by The Reverend Kate Belcher (B1 1969-71) The Intercessions are led by Warrant Officer Class One (RSM) Bate S J (Late GREN GDS) Let us pray for all who suffer as a result of conflict and ask that God may give us peace. For the servicemen and women who have died in the violence of war, each one remembered by and known to God. May God give peace. For those who love them in death as in life, offering the distress of our grief and the sadness of our loss. May God give peace. For all members of the armed forces who are in danger this day, remembering family, friends and all who pray for their safe return. May God give peace. For civilian women, children and men whose lives are disfigured by war or terror, calling to mind in penitence the anger and hatred of humanity. May God give peace. For peace-makers and peace-keepers, who seek to keep this world secure and free. May God give peace. For all who bear the burden and privilege of leadership, political, military and religious; asking for gifts of wisdom and resolve in the search for reconciliation and peace. May God give peace.
O God, Monarch of truth and justice, we hold before you those whose memory we cherish, and those whose names we will never know. Help us to lift our eyes above the torment of this broken world, and grant us the grace to pray for those who wish us harm, and those whom we have harmed. As we honour the past, may we put our faith in your future; for you are the source of all life and hope, the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
The Upper Sixth Choir sing the anthem They are at Rest by Edward Elgar (1857-1934) Words: John Henry Newman (1801 – 1890) They are at rest. We may not stir the heaven of their repose By rude invoking voice, or prayer addrest In waywardness to those Who in the mountain grots of Eden lie, And hear the fourfold river as it murmurs by. And soothing sounds Blend with the neighb’ring waters as they glide; Posted along the haunted garden’s bounds, Angelic forms abide, Echoing, as words of watch, o’er lawn and grove The verses of that hymn which Seraphs chant above.
Hymn sung by the Hundred Choir I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above, Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love; The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test, That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best; The love that never falters, the love that pays the price, The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice. I heard my country calling, away across the sea, Across the waste of waters she calls and calls to me. Her sword is girded at her side, her helmet on her head, And round her feet are lying the dying and the dead. I hear the noise of battle, the thunder of her guns, I haste to thee my mother, a son among thy sons. And there’s another country, I’ve heard of long ago, Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know; We may not count her armies, we may not see her King; Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering; And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase, And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace. Words: Sir Cecil Spring Rice (1859-1918) Music: Gustav Holst (1874-1934) Descant: Adam Meehan-Staines
The Blessing God grant to the living grace, to the departed rest, to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth and all peoples, peace, unity and concord, and to us and all God’s servants, life everlasting. And the blessing of God Almighty, The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with you and remain with you always. Amen.
The Music after the Service is Cortège et Litanie Marcel Dupré (1886-1971)
The grave marker for John Kelsall (PR 1905-1909) killed in artillery action at Zillebeke Lake on 27 August 1917 during the first month of the Third Battle of Ypres. He is buried in The Huts cemetery, Ypres and his headstone reads “ He died at the guns heartening his men�
With thanks to: Gully Weston (C1 L6), Trumpet Colin Smith, Bagpipes and Michael Butterfield, College Organist