Dozens gather at Exeter Cathedral for poignant Armistice Day service
The service was an opportunity for members of the Armed Forces, their families, and the wider community, to come together in remembrance and to pay their respects.
Dozens of people gathered at Exeter Cathedral this morning to remember the sacrifices and service of members of the Armed Forces.
Veterans, their families, and members of the community young and old, all came together at the event on Wednesday, November 11.
The service was officiated by The Reverend Canon Cate Edmonds, who led the congregation in remembrance, prayer, and blessing.
Her words were poignant, and the emotion inside the cathedral was palpable.
“Ever-living God, we remember those whom you have gathered from the storm of war into the peace of your presence; may that same peace calm our fears, bring justice to all peoples and establish harmony among the nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord,” she prayed.
The congregation remained standing throughout the service. When it came time for the two-minutes silence, guests lowered their heads in solemn contemplation - perhaps mourning the loss of loved ones, reflecting on their own experiences, or simply paying their respects to those who keep us safe.
It is estimated that 11,600 men and women from Devon lost their lives serving in the First World War.
The silence was moving, with not so much as a whisper uttered from anyone in attendance. The strength of feeling from the congregation was clear through the faces from those standing tall.
The two minutes was marked with passionate renditions of the Last Post and the Reveille by trumpeter Mike Brewer. A live performance from organist Max Toth also added to the atmosphere.
The Reverend Canon uttered prayers for “all those who strive for peace and all who fight for justice”, and the cathedral filled with a cacophony of voices at the recital of the Lord’s Prayer.
The congregation stood one final time to sing the country’s national anthem, God Save the King.
This marked the conclusion of the service, though many in remembrance chose to stay, heads bowed, to reflect and pay their respects.
Armistice Day takes place on November 11 each year to mark the signing of the Armistice - an agreement which is understood to have brought an end to the First World War.
A two-minute silence is observed at 11am on this day to coincide with the time on November 11, 1918, that the Armistice was signed.