On 11th November 2018, the United Kingdom and its friends overseas will mark the day 100 years ago when the guns fell silent at the end of the First World War.
Please encourage your local Cathedral, Minster or Church to participate by ringing their bells at 7.05pm that evening, asking them to complete the registration form found at: www.brunopeek.co.uk
Please sign up by 20th October 2018.
President of the Irish Council of Churches, Brian Anderson:
“In Ireland this important commemoration forms part of a Decade of Centenaries that has challenged us to reflect together on the national and international events that have shaped our identities – social, political and cultural. The shadow of war provided the backdrop and context for many of these events. The tragic loss of young lives was deeply felt by people of both traditions across the island of Ireland. Our commemoration of this tragedy has brought us closer together as a society, reminding us of the bonds of our common humanity and the need to take care of one another, especially the weakest and the most vulnerable. It is fitting that we should mark this iconic moment of peace with the ringing of church bells as a reminder of Christ’s message of hope to the world. Sadly, violence and war continue to blight the lives of vulnerable people near and far. The ringing of the bells calls us to recommit ourselves to playing our part to bring peace and restore hope once more to a suffering world.”
You can play your part in remembering the sacrifice of millions of men and women by joining us in Battle’s Over, a unique series of events in the morning and evening involving organisations and communities the length and breadth of our nation and in many countries abroad.
- Battle’s Over – Sleep in peace, now the battle’s over
- Battle’s Over – The Last Post
- Battle’s Over – WWI Beacons of Light
- Battle’s Over – Ringing out for Peace
- Battle’s Over – Cry for Peace Around the World
7.05pm Battle’s Over – Ringing out for peace!
As beacons blaze around the country, bells in 1,000 churches and cathedrals will ring out in celebration of the end of the First World War. Many people in Britain live within hearing of church bells, which call congregations to prayer and mark special occasions. But the sound of mighty bells, some of which are hundreds of years old, also provides a stirring soundtrack to historic events.
The ringing of bells to celebrate the end of the Great War is being organised in association with the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers, the representative body for groups who ring bells in the English tradition with rope and wheel. It was founded in 1891 and represents 65 affiliated societies of local ringers from all over the British Isles and many other countries from Australasia to North America to Africa.
The stirring sound of church and cathedral bells will provide a fitting conclusion to a day of contemplation, commemoration and, ultimately, celebration as our country and other nations reflect on events a century ago on the battlefields of Europe and at home in our factories and farms.
If your church would like to take part, register at www.brunopeek.co.uk
