The Berkshire chapel where the Falklands war is never forgotten
This year is the 40th Anniversary of the Falklands war and this weekend the annual remembrance and thanksgiving service is expected to attract around a thousand people
Last updated 9th Jun 2022
This weekend a service of remembrance and thanksgiving to commemorate those who lost their lives in the liberation of the Falkland Islands in 1982 will take place in a chapel near Reading.
The Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel sits within the grounds of Pangbourne College and this year's service marks 40 years since the liberation of the Islands.
The Chapel, which was opened in March 2000 by The Queen, holds a service nearest to the date of the Liberation of the Falkland Islands (June 14) each year, however, this year some 1,000 people are expected to attend, double the usual number.
Among those attending will be next of kin of those who lost their lives, veterans of the Conflict and their families, along with supporters of the chapel.
The Service will be led by the Anglican Bishop to the Armed Forces, Rt. Revd Hugh Nelson, and the Roman Catholic Bishop to the Armed Forces, Rt. Revd. Paul Mason.
The Chapel
The Chapel is a permanent and ‘living’ memorial to commemorate the lives and sacrifice of the 258 individuals who died in the South Atlantic in 1982 (255 Task Force + 3 islanders).
More than half of the British casualties died at sea; the majority under fierce enemy attack which sank five ships and damaged eight more, some severely.
Its design came about as a result of a nation-wide competition, which was won by Crispin Wride Architectural Design Studio. The entrance foyer contains the names of the 258 fallen, engraved in stone on the walls flanking the Chapel’s entrance. The result is a contemporary design reminiscent of the shape of a ship.
A particular feature is the memorial window, above the altar. This is a stained glass depicting the Falkland Islands situated within a large cross, all surrounded by a lively sea in vibrant shades of blue and green.
A circular Memorial Garden beside the Chapel gives visitors a secure space for contemplation. It contains seating and a relief map of the islands. More recently, plaques have been added, on either side of the relief map. These commemorate the role played by the various organisations involved in the conflict.
In a quiet area at the back of the Chapel, there is a cairn. This is constructed from stones collected by relatives of the fallen, many of the stones are from the Falkland Islands.
To the side of the Chapel, there is a piece of sculpture comprising three albatrosses in flight. This was created by sculptor Mark Coreth, and signifies the abundance of wild life found on the Islands.
Why Pangbourne?
The original trustees gave much thought to the location of the memorial chapel. Its location at Pangbourne College is the result of a number of factors. The trustees were particularly keen that the Chapel should be a well-used, living memorial. As it happens, Pangbourne College has a maritime heritage, and indeed the students still wear naval uniform on a daily basis.
No fewer than 50 old boys of the College served in the conflict, the great majority in either the Royal Navy or the Royal Marines.
The College uses the Chapel on a daily basis, and Pangbourne is seen by the current trustees to have been an inspired location for the Chapel.