War Memorials TrustOn Remembrance Sunday many of us will visit our local war memorials to pay our respects for those who died for our country. Many of these monuments are maintained by the charity, the War Memorials Trust. There are estimated to be over 100,000 war memorials in the UK. Many of these are treasured but sadly others are neglected and vandalised or left to suffer the effects of ageing and weathering. The War Memorials Trust aims to ensure each and every memorial is preserved and the memory of the individuals remembered, whether they be from past or present conflict, civilian or service personnel. War memorials were created by individual communities according to decisions made by local committees. There were no government directives or any rules about what form a memorial should take, which led to an incredibly diverse range of designs. They reflect the wishes of that community at that time and provide a fascinating insight into the feelings of the population in the aftermath of war. Popular types of monument include cenotaphs, obelisks and pillars. The word ‘cenotaph’ derives from Greek and means ’empty tomb.’ This is often used to symbolise casualties with no known grave. Many war memorial pillars are constructed to look broken off, symbolising lives cut short. War Memorials Trust is a charity that relies entirely on voluntary donations to enable it to protect and conserve war memorials in the UK. If you would like to get involved visit http://www.warmemorials.org. Please pray for all those who work to maintain our war memorials so that they can be an enduring reminder of the sacrifice that so many have made for our country.Pershore Deanery: Rural Dean: Susan Renshaw, Lay Chair: Richard Mumford Diocese of Winchester: Bishop Tim Dakin with Bishops Peter Hancock (Basingstoke) and Jonathan Frost (Southampton), Diocese of Agder and Telemark (Norway): Bishop Stein Reinertsen, Diocese of Utah (USA): Bishop Scott Hayashi
Sun 10th Nov – War Memorials Trust
