News
News
Changes to Remembrance Day Service
Remembrance Sunday this year will take a new format at Winchester Cathedral due to COVID-19 restrictions.
To protect the health and safety of the hundreds who would normally gather at the Cathedral, people are being asked to join the Service from their homes instead, through a livestream of the event.
The Service will be going ahead with a limited number of invited people, including members of the military, veterans and uniformed organisations, schools and colleges, local councils, faith leaders, the Mayor of Winchester, the High Sheriff, and a representative of the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire. It will be held inside the cathedral, in a socially distanced way.
The decision was made after exploring all possible options and in consultation with the City Council Safety Advisory Group, Public Health England, the Royal British Legion, and locally based regiments.
The Very Reverend Catherine Ogle, Dean of Winchester said:
“After close consultation with partners, sadly, we will not be able to have an outdoor commemoration this year. We know this will be a great loss to many.
“‘However, we are so pleased now to be able to offer live-streaming of this significant Service enabling people to come together, while ensuring everyone stays safe.”
The Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Patrick Cunningham said:
“Remembrance ceremonies this year will be unlike any other; but we must find new ways to reflect, remember and observe this important occasion.
“I actively encourage you to watch the live stream of the Service at 10am on Remembrance Sunday, and I invite you to stand on your doorsteps at 11am to share in a united 2 minutes silence to remember all those who are currently serving, those who have served in the past, and those who have given their lives.”
Members of the public are also encouraged to light a candle in the cathedral, in the week leading up to Remembrance Sunday. In the week after, people are invited to lay wreaths by the War Memorial or crosses can be placed in the nearby Royal British Legion Garden of Remembrance.
The Remembrance Sunday Service is open to everyone to join online, at 10am, Sunday 8 November on the Winchester Cathedral website, Youtube channel and Facebook page. Details of the Service can be found on the Cathedral website.