Remembrance Sunday

Update, 7 November 2020:

Due to the change in lockdown restrictions earlier in the week, we had to pre-record the Act of Remembrance before the lockdown began on Thursday. The service will be shown on YouTube on Sunday starting at 10:45 am. Please do not attend St Stephen’s Church or gather in The Triangle on Sunday morning.

Remembrance Day in Cinderford goes online. Due to the current pandemic, the usual Remembrance Day Parade and Service will not be able to take place in The Triangle in Cinderford this year. However, Cinderford Town Council, Cinderford Royal British Legion and Cinderford Churches are working together to organise a special Remembrance Service at St Stephen’s Church that will be live-streamed for everyone to watch.

Due to current restrictions, and to enable all the organisations who normally participate to take part, the church service will be invite only, but everyone can watch freely online. The service will be live-streamed to Cinderford Churches YouTube Channel and shared across websites and social media.

Representatives from across the community will lay wreaths in St Stephen’s Church as part of the act of remembrance. The wreaths will be transferred to the war memorial in Cinderford Triangle shortly after the service.

Chair of Cinderford Town Council, Chris Witham, said “The remembrance parade has seen significant growth in support in recent years and unfortunately it was not possible to hold a safe event in the Triangle this year. It is great to work with partner organisations to be able to put on a service of remembrance that we hope the community will be able to engage with and see as a suitable tribute in difficult circumstances.”

Vicar of Cinderford with Littledean, Mike Barnsley said “We live in strange and difficult times and we’ve all had to make changes to our way of life this year. Many life events have been impacted this year but we have taken great steps forward to be able to live-stream weddings and funerals alongside Sunday services. Whilst Remembrance Sunday will be different this year, I am thankful we are still able to put together a service and remember together across our community.”

Chair of Cinderford Royal British Legion, Geoff Jones said “It is disappointing but understandable that we cannot meet in person this year. However, after the success of our live-streamed V E Day service, I am confident we will have a fitting act of remembrance this year with the added benefit that people who are home bound or living further away will be able to join in and remember with us as a community.”

The service will start around 10:45am on Sunday 8 November on the Cinderford Churches YouTube Channel. Links will be shared across Cinderford Town Council and Cinderford Royal British Legion social media sites for ease of access. Unless invited as a representative of a local organisation, please do not gather in The Triangle or attend at St Stephen’s Church.