Remembering the Somme this weekend
Today and this weekend we commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme – one of the deadliest battles in British History which began on 1 July 1916.
In the diocese many parishes are holding services of commemoration or remembrance. Here are just some of the dates and times:
Donaghcloney – Friday 1 July at 7.20 am. A short British Legion service at the war memorial.
Christ Church Kilkeel – Friday 1 July at 6.45 pm – “Lest we forget.” A Commemoration of the Battle of the Somme.
Holywood – Friday 1 July at 7.00 pm. A Commemoration of the Somme
Donaghcloney – Friday 1 July at 7.20 am. A short British Legion service at the war memorial.
Mount Merrion, Cregagh – Sunday 3 July at 10.30 am. A special Somme Remembrance Service which will be attended by the local branch of the Royal British Legion. The legion will parade to and from the church.
St Finnian’s, Cregagh – Sunday 3 July, at 11.00 am. A Commemoration of the Somme
Seagoe Parish – Sunday 3 July at 7.00 pm. A Service of Remembrance for the Somme
Donaghmore Parish Church – Sunday 3 July at 3.00 pm. Orange Order Somme Memorial Service.
St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast – Sunday 3 July at 3.00 pm. A Service to Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
Bell ringing
Of all the bell towers in the British Isles, Bangor Parish has the distinction of having lost the most ringers in the Great War, with three killed on the first day of the Somme alone.
The bell ringers at Bangor Parish will remember them and all who fell at the Somme on the evening of Friday 1 July.
The bells will be half–muffled and will be rung in different patterns or methods from 8.45 pm.