Archbishop leads Remembrance events across Devon
The Archbishop of Canterbury is visiting Torbay and will be in Plymouth
Last updated 11th Nov 2023
The Archbishop of Canterbury will this weekend lead a prayer for the 80th anniversary of a wartime bombing which killed 21 children and three Sunday School teachers at a church in Torquay.
The Most Reverend Justin Welby will lead a prayer at the Chapel of the Innocents at St Mary the Virgin Church in St Marychurch on Saturday before taking part in an Act of Remembrance led by the Royal British Legion at Torquay War Memorial alongside civic leaders.
The Archbishop will give the address during a service of Sung Morning Prayer at the church at 9.15am, which is open for anyone to attend.
The Archbishop Justin Welby will later join others on a Walk of Reflection for Peace, pausing at Torquay Harbour Bridge to pray for peace makers and 'bridge builders' in places of conflict - and at the Harbour Wall to pray for peace ‘beyond the horizon of the here and now.’
The Archbishop, who has made reconciliation and peacebuilding a priority during his time in office, has recently returned from Jerusalem where he joined Anglican and other church leaders there in praying for peace in Gaza and Israel.
Father Peter March, Vicar of St Luke, St John and All Saints, Torre, said: "This will be a timely opportunity for people to reflect both on the damage caused by conflict, and on the part we are all called to play in bringing peace and healing by the way we live our lives."
On Sunday 12 November, Archbishop Justin will lead the Remembrance service on Plymouth Hoe.
The service remembers all those who lost their lives in both World Wars and in all conflicts.
He will be joined by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Councillor Mark Shayer and Mrs Samantha Shayer, the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, David Fursdon and the Bishop of Plymouth, The Rt Revd James Grier.
The Lord Mayor said: “We are incredibly honoured to welcome Archbishop Justin to Plymouth to lead this year’s Remembrance Sunday Service. This is such an important occasion for the city, bringing us all together each year to commemorate and pay tribute to the service, bravery, and sacrifice of those who have laid down their lives for our country.
It is an opportunity not only to remember those we have lost in conflict but also join in a shared hope for a more peaceful tomorrow.”
Bishop James said: “Plymouth is a city with a rich military history and an ongoing military presence.
“The Remembrance Sunday Service is an especially significant and important moment for us as Plymothians and so I am delighted that Archbishop Justin will be joining us.
“As the Archbishop of Canterbury, he not only brings the message of hope and peace that Christian faith offers but he is also someone who has personally devoted his life to peace and reconciliation across the globe.”
The Archbishop’s visit to Devon is part of a weekend of mission in the county called Come and See, which will also see him visiting Ilfracombe Academy, Holsworthy Livestock Market and taking part in an event about bereavement at Exeter University.