This Sunday, bells at Anglican churches across Greater Sydney and the Illawarra will ring to mark 100 years since the signing of the Armistice which ended World War One.
Archbishop Glenn Davies has requested bells ring for one minute up to 11 am, which was the time of the signing and cessation of hostilities after four years of what became known as the Great War. It’s understood church bells will ring out in other parts of Australia, as they did in 1918 to communicate news that war was over.
From a population of fewer than five million, more than 400 thousand Australian men enlisted, of which over 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner.
At St Mark’s, Picton, we’ll conclude our regular Sunday service with a brief service of remembrance, followed by the ringing of the bell and two minutes silence at 11am.
We do this to remember and say thank you for the great sacrifices made in order to preserve our freedom. May we never take this freedom for granted. We also give thanks and praise to God – who not only gives us all good things, but through Christ, has promised to carry us home to our eternal rest with him.
