Can we keep this year's Remembrance Day Service

Cllr Alan Leggatt reading out the names of the Fallen, at last year's Remembrance Day at the War Memorial

Last Sunday morning the service was a Lay led Service of the Word via Zoom. We would normally have our Family and Friends service on the first Sunday of the month but with the current Coronavirus situation, we are prevented from holding a service involving many children and their families. It had been hoped that the restriction would have been lifted in time for the Christmas activity service, but after the weekend announcement that there was to be another one month lockdown starting this week, any normal services are unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future.

It had been planned for a Remembrance service in St Mary’s next Sunday, November 8th, led by Bishop Richard from Bedford. This service will not now go ahead as church services have been stopped again. There is no service being held on the Market Square and there will not be the usual Remembrance Parade to the Cemetery. Just before 11am, it is hoped that a single bell at St Mary’s Church may toll and the Last Post will be played at the War Memorial, signalling the start of the Two Minute Silence. On hearing the Bell ringing it is hoped that people will stand at their front door in an Act of Remembrance. The names of the Fallen will be read at the War Memorial followed by Reveille. There will be a small wreath laying ceremony at the War Memorial but others who wish to lay a Wreath, are asked to lay them later so that the area around the Memorial, does not exceed the distance spacing rules. Any further change to these arrangements before next Sunday will be notified on St Mary’s Facebook page. We hope and pray that normality will return next year!

St Mary’s is open for private prayer on Monday, Thursday and Sunday of each week, unless we have to keep the church locked again during the new lockdown period. Please follow the advice given in church for visitors regarding Covid-19 restrictions. Possible bookings for weddings, baptisms and funerals may be made by calling the church office on 01767 261202 or email to: benefice.com@gmail.com. The Church Hall is now available for bookings so if you have a future date in mind, please ring 01767 260430 to enquire availability. Bookings are now likely to be subject to the new lockdown rules.

Services for Sunday November 8th, Trinity 22, There will be no church services in the Benefice allowed under the new lockdown rules except our 10.30am service for the Benefice will be replaced with a Zoom ‘Service of the Word’ each week. Please use the previous login details for these services