Service in Chorley marks two years since full-scale invasion of Ukraine

A service will take place in Chorley later to mark two years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Since the outbreak of the war with Russia on 24th February 2022, St Laurence's Church has been a constant source of support for the community, and for the refugees who've settled into the safety of the Lancashire market town.

The last two years has also seen the birth of the Chorley and District Support for Ukraine group, which has been relentlessly collecting and sending aid parcels over to those in need in Ukraine.

Tonight, a special service will see members of that group, along with civic dignitaries, Ukrainian families, host families and the wider community, coming together to pray for world peace on the second anniversary of the fighting.

Fr Neil Kelley will lead the service, he's been the rector at St Laurence's since 2017: "As soon as we heard the news that this conflict had escalated, there was a groundswell of people from Chorley who wanted to respond in practical ways by sending out food and clothing. St Laurence's church became a hub for collecting lots of different things. We would fill the church full during the week and on Saturdays it all went to a unit on Market Walk so we could get people into Church on Sunday.

"Under the direction of Stewart Clewlow, the Chorley and District Support for Ukraine came into being. Every weekend and every Wednesday, the unit on Market Walk has been open for people to drop donations, for everything to be organised and for regular convoys of vehicles to go out to Ukraine. In fact, the 200th session at the Ukraine depot has just taken place. People have been working really hard and St Laurence's has just been doing what other churches and groups in the community has tried to do by supporting that work and to facilitate it happening."

For many of the Ukrainians who have settled in to the safety of Chorley, the anniversary over the weekend served as a painful reminder of how long they have been separated from normality, and from their friends, family and loved ones.

Fr Neil continued: "Because so many Ukrainian families have now made their homes in Chorley, it’s brought the reality of it much closer to home, as relationships have been formed. People aren't just getting information from the news, but by building friendships and relationships with families who've moved here. We're hearing first-hand what it's really been like and the impact for families who have relocated here. It seems that a lot of people from Ukraine have integrated into Chorley in a really lovely way and there are so many different things that have been organised to give moral support and friendship to all of the people who are our guests, if you like, but at the moment this is their home."

The service at St Laurence's will start at 6.15pm and will include a bible reading spoken in the Ukrainian language along with a reflection from a local Methodist minister, who is the host of a Ukrainian family.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

• Chorley