WWI candlelit vigil

The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Memorial Church of St. Bartholomew in Yeovilton village will be holding a Vigil Service on 

Monday 4^th August
from
2200 – 2300 

During the service candles will be extinguished, as they will be extinguished in churches across the nation, including Westminster Abbey. 

This Vigil Service marks 100 years since our country entered the Great War. 

Drawing upon Sir Edward Grey’s famous remark that “the lights are going out all over Europe”, we will mark the centenary by moving from light into darkness, until one candle remains. This candle is situated in front of the Roll of Honour of the 800+ men of the FAA who gave their lives for their country between 1914 and 1919 and will be extinguished at 2300 to mark the moment of the declaration of war. Each and every one of these individuals will also be mentioned by name and prayed for on the centenary of their deaths over the next few years. 

The Service will not be a premature marking of armistice, but rather a particular commemoration of the centenary of the beginning of the war: remembering the effects of human frailty and failure, as well as the looming violence which characterised so much of that lengthy and devastating conflict. 

All are welcome to attend. 

Contact the Chaplaincy on ext 5257
or [email protected]
for further details.