TO COMMEMORATE the eightieth anniversary of VE — Victory in Europe — Day, St Paul’s Cathedral held a special evensong on Thursday.
The service featured readings, music, and prayers, honouring those that served, fought, and died within the armed services, in addition to remembering Londoners who lost their lives through the Blitz, and throughout the war.
After the service, there was a blessing of the “Lamp Light of Peace” on the west steps by the late Queen Elizabeth’s pageant master, Bruno Peek. The cathedral also joined within the national bell-ringing at 6.30 p.m. (News 28 April).
An announcement from St Paul’s Cathedral said that the service recognised “the resilience and fortitude of the people of London — each in 1945 and today”.
Throughout the day on Thursday, members of the general public were capable of see a duplicate Spitfire which was situated in front of the cathedral.
In a photograph message posted on social media on Thursday, the St Paul’s Cathedral Instagram account announced their recent exhibition, “Saving St Paul’s: The Watch and the Second World War”.
The post said: “How did St Paul’s survive the Blitz? Spoiler: it wasn’t luck alone. Meet the brave volunteers of the St Paul’s Watch — peculiar individuals who risked the whole lot to save lots of a London icon.”
The exhibition is free, and is on until October of this 12 months.
Church Times correspondents witnessed the events of VE Day in 1945 (News 8 May), and reported: “St Paul’s held its great service of thanksgiving earlier within the day. People surged up the steps and into the nave where many stood within the alleyways because there was no room anywhere else. There were men from the British fighting Forces, American soldiers, office employees, shopkeepers and labourers, women with babies, girls with tricolour paper hats, and youngsters with flags and rosettes.
“The Dean went directly into the pulpit, where he read thanksgivings and intercessions for many who were still fighting within the East. After the Te Deum and the blessing, the good congregation could scarcely find its way out of the cathedral for the press of one other great congregation attempting to enter for the following service.”
