The 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) will be marked by church bells ringing out across the country – and a replica Spitfire outside St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
The Church of England (CofE) has announced that at 6.30pm on VE Day, Thursday 8th May, church and cathedral bells will echo the sounds that swept across the country in 1945, as a collective act of thanksgiving.
A statement on the CofE website said: “The events will offer an opportunity for reflection, remembrance, and a renewed commitment to peace, echoing the spirit of unity that defined the end of the Second World War in Europe.”
As well as the co-ordinated bell-ringing, there will also be prayers for peace, and an invitation to light a virtual candle on the Church of England website.
A replica Spitfire will be sited in front of St Paul’s Cathedral to commemorate VE Day. St Paul’s became a symbol of hope, strength and resilience during the Second World War. Herbert Mason’s famous photograph, ‘St Paul’s Survives,’ taken one December night during the Blitz in 1940, took on a life of its own, cementing this idea – one which endures and resonates to this day.
This year, on the 80th anniversary, St Paul’s will host a special Evensong – with the theme ‘from remembrance to hope’ – focusing on the people of London and those affected by the Blitz.
The service will be attended by VIPs, the armed forces, and descendants of the St Paul’s Watch, who volunteered to protect the cathedral during the war.
Immediately following the service, there will be the blessing and lighting of the Lamp Light of Peace which will then go on to be used to ignite a national chain of beacons.
Rt Rev Hugh Nelson, Bishop of St Germans and the lead bishop for the Armed Forces, said: “The 80th anniversary of VE Day is a moment of profound significance for our nation.
“It is a time to remember with deep gratitude the courage and sacrifice of those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today.
“In an increasingly dangerous world, I encourage all our churches to participate in these commemorations, to ring their bells, to offer prayers for peace, and to provide spaces for their communities to come together in remembrance.
“As we honour the past, so we renew our commitment to building a more peaceful and just world for all.”