Bombed during World War II, St George’s Garrison Church survives as an evocative ruin with recently conserved mosaics, and a modern canopy roof, for all to enjoy.

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Remembrance Sunday Service, 10th November

10.45am

With the recent temporary departure of the 1st Battalion of the Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment from Woolwich Barracks to Cyprus, and the commitment of the King's Troop to commemorations in the centre of London, we had thought that a print run of 100 Orders of Service would more than have sufficed for our likely congregation. How wrong we were!

There were about 150 members of the congregation on a grey Sunday morning at the Garrison Church.

A good turnout of Army cadets and Gurkha supporters made up a substantial element, but there were many local friends, members of Greenwich Council, and representatives of the Royal Artillery. Wreaths were laid by our MP Matthew Pennycook, Cllr Linda Bird the Deputy Mayor, Major Tait for the Royal Artillery, Judge Ben Gumpert KC for the Judges at Woolwich Crown Court, Dr Mary-Clare Parker on behalf of the Lieutenancy, Louise Watson for the University of Greenwich, Peter Waller for the Woolwich Garrison Church Trust, Diana Beattie OBE for London Historic Buildings Trust as well as representatives of the Gurkha Community, the Police and Fire Services, the Greenwich Council Licensing Department, the former Mayor of Greenwich Cllr Mbang, and the Army Cadets.

The Service followed the time honoured pattern with the Last Post and Reveille (superbly played by), the two-minute silence, the reading of The Soldier by Rupert Brookes by an Army Cadet, Psalm 46 by Cllr Linda Bird and In Flanders Fields by Ruth Dodson, Trust Adminstrator. The hymns included Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer, Fight the Good Fight, Jerusalem and Abide with Me.

And we followed the tradition which has now existed for 5 years of commemorating one of the names on the Royal Artillery VC Memorial in the Church and one from the memorial to those local men who gave their lives on active Service or as a result of terrorist activity since the end of the Second World War. This year we remembered Andrew Henry who was born in Woolwich in 1823 and was awarded his VC for extraordinary valour on 24th February 1857 during the Crimean War. The local man to be commemorated was Gunner Richard Dunne who died in the IRA Woolwich Pub Bomb blast on 7thNovember 1974.

Our sincere thanks are due to Rev Chris Moody who conducted the Service, and led the prayers.

It was good that so many in the congregation stayed behind afterwards for refreshments and a chat.

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St George's Garrison Church in Woolwich, with its modern canopy roof and stunning mosaics, is both an evocative ruin and a contemporary space. Designed by Thomas H Wyatt in an Italian-Romanesque style, the Church was built between 1862-63 to serve the Royal Artillery in Woolwich. Today it is run by a local group, the Woolwich Garrison Church Trust who are committed to making it available for all to visit and enjoy. Directly opposite the Barracks in Woolwich, South East London, come and enjoy its beauty and peaceful garden.

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