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 Day service 9th November 2025

Remembrance Day Service at Garrison Church

Our annual Service took place in beautiful autumn weather on Sunday 9th November at the Garrison Church. We had over 100 in the congregation including a sizeable number from the local Gurkha Community, a large contingent from the Army Cadets, 4 Councillors from RBG and our MP.

The Service followed the time-honoured tradition, including the Reveille and Last Post, the Exhortation and the Kohima Epitaph and hymns such as Abide With Me, O God our Help in Ages Past and Fight the Good Fight. Readings included In Flanders Field by John McRae and passages from Pilgrims Progress.

What distinguishes our Service is that we commemorate 2 men, one from the Royal Artillery VC Memorial and one from the memorial to those killed on active service or in terrorist activity linked with Woolwich. The last name on that Memorial is Fusilier Lee Rigby.T

This year we had readings about the life and death of Lt.Tom Tanswell who died in Iraq in 2006 and Ernest Horlock who received his VC for acts of extraordinary valour in Northern France in September 1914. He survived that incident but died when the ship entering Alexandria was sunk by enemy fire later in the War when he was en route to a posting in Egypt.

Our Remembrance Day Service was followed by refreshments in the autumn sunshine. It was a moving and uplifting experience for all who attended.

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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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