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Civilian Service of
Remembrance and Thanksgiving - 2007
THE CHURCH SERVICE - PAGE
ONE
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 Tuesday,
6th November, 2007, was the day we welcomed many friends, old
and new, to the Service of Remembrance for the Civilians of
Dover who lost their lives in the two World Wars, and the
Thanksgiving for those brave people who defended us. That
included especially our friends from Canada, under whose command
the enemy guns along the French coast,
that had for over four years
bombarded our town with shells, were finally captured and
silenced.
The
service was held at St Mary the Virgin, Cannon Street, Dover.
There's been a church on the
site since the 11th century.
but most of the present outlines
date from the 1840s, when a full-scale
restoration was undertaken.
The church itself is a casualty of
the Second World War: a replacement east window was just
one of the works needed after war damage. Left is a
detail from the window, showing the Virgin Mary.
Particularly charming are the small painted pictures at the base
of the window, depicting landmarks in Dover. Right is St Mary's
church, as seen by the artist.
There's a ring of eight bells at St Mary's, with the tenor in E
at just over 15 cwt. Bellringers called the congregation to
worship.
We were delighted to welcome Colonel Kevin Cotten, CD, from the
Canadian High Commission, and The Right Worshipful The Mayor of
Dover, Councillor Bob Markham.
At exactly 10.30 am, the cross led the procession down the
aisle.
With Ralph at the organ, the congregation rose to sing the
hymn "Praise my soul the King of Heaven". The Reverend David
Ridley welcomed the congregation.
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all photos Simon Chambers, except procession,
Michael Munn
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