Spring 2007 - Diocese in Europe

4 ON A FRONT LINE MISSIONHISTORY COMES ALIVE FOR YOUTH5R EMEMBERINGFORTHE FUTURE 1927–2007Canon Ray Jones, Chaplain at St George’s Memorial Church the Belgian town of Ypres,understands the painful history of the locality as a front line site during World War 1 andwrites about the opportunities for education, co-operation and ministry today.The standard of St George hangs outside the Ypres church which carries his name.L EST WE FORGETAt the end of the First World War a decision was made by the BritishGovernment to create a memorial to the many thousands of soldiers who haddied in the three Battles of the Ypres Salient and associated battlefields in thatarea. After much heated argument a site for a memorial church was located andfunding raised for the building of St George’s Memorial Church in the town ofYpres.The foundation stone was laid in July 1927 and the Church completed andconsecrated by the then Bishop of Fulham in 1929.E CUMENISMIN P RACTICEFrom 1927 when the door of theChurch was opened and Chaplainsappointed, St George’s has welcomedchurch people and their clergy of alldenominations to offer worship,prayer, thanksgiving and reflection onthe meaning of war, the sacrificesmade in the hope of peace and tolook forward in hope to a worldwhere war is no more.It is from this firm base ofecumenical outreach that clergy andcongregations of Anglican, RomanCatholic, Orthodox and the UnitedProtestant Church of Belgiumwork and worship together on aregular basis, sharing services in HolyWeek, Easter, Christmas and at themany international, national andcivic ceremonies at the MeninGate Memorial.Not just any graveside. Canon RayJones offers prayers for victims ofbattle 90 years ago.A PLACE OFP ILGRIMAGESt George’s has been a place ofpilgrimage and remembrance ever since.In 2006, over 140,000 people(veterans,RBL members, RegimentalAssociations and individuals) from theUK and across the world, visited theChurch and a further 38,000 schoolstudents from UK, Australia, NewZealand, South Africa, India, Pakistanand from all corners of Europe camein organised school groups. Manyschools come to share in services ofRemembrance and the Dedicationof a memorial plaque to their formerpupils who gave their lives in theGreat War.A WIDERRemembranceceremonieshave aparticularpoignancehere.The present Chaplain, Canon RayJones, who is a former Armyofficer and Chaplain travels far andwide with his ministry at St George’s.The Commonwealth War GravesCommission calls on him to conductburial services for the recoveredremains of WW1 soldiers found inthe former battlefields. Canon Jonessays “The burial service is simple –anact of Christian love and respect forthe dead. Quite often the remains areunidentified, others may have anidentity disc, a regimental badge orbutton.They are buried in simplewooden boxes. Occasionally thesoldier is identified by name andRegiment- the Ministry of Defencetake enormous care and effort intracing relatives – and where possiblea funeral service with full militaryhonours is arranged and relativesattend. All burial services areconducted in a military cemeteryand are deeply moving occasions.They are an important part of myministry here in Belgium”Canon Jones is also asked to conductT HELOSTBOYSBy Matt EglintonYour sacrifice has long gone byBut our remembrance of you shallnever die.Today your memory’s quietly kept.No words are needed; we shallnever forget,M INISTRYWe each of us in our own wayCommemorate your lives todayThese poems are from an anthology of modernpoetry produced by the students of QueenElisabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle Lincoln“From the Trenches”. Sold in aid of The RoyalNaval Benevolent Trust, The Army BenevolentFund and the RAF Benevolent Trust,Annual Services of Remembrancefor the Royal British Legion, theBelgian Sections of the Royal AirForce and South African Air Force,the Brigade Peron (Belgian Army)and other organisations who servedwith the British Forces in WorldTwo. In 2006 Canon Jones travelledto Dorchester in England to conducta service for members of the DorsetRegiment.This year they will havetheir service in St George’s.The highlight of the year is theannual services in St George’s forBritish Schools and Colleges.“Iregard these services- and the visitsfrom so many school students – as amajor part of our ministry here.This is very much where the youngpeople are fully engaged in“Remembering for the Future”Theirbattlefield journeys, tracing thebattles fought by their ancestors,walking the fields, seeing the lineswhere the trenches were dug,standing quietly in the cemeterieswith the rows of headstones,reading the names of soldiers ofC EMETERYBy Sarah BrowneUnearthly silenceBroken only by soft words from thosepaying their last respects.Shadows loom behind the headstones,Symbolising the dark occurrencesfrom the past.Close your eyes and listen,And in the distance you can hearthem, LaughingOr maybe crying.Each headstone tells the story ofa soldierAll were brave, fearlessThey fought for us And we owethem everythingtheir own age (or younger!) andwondering what had happened thesoldier “known only unto God”. Itis an experience which some studentsreflect in poetry or prose and whichwill be with them for the rest oftheir lives”.“In the midst of life.” The graphicmessage of St George’s ministrychallenges people all over the world.