Church to Mark Armistice Day 75 Years On with Plaque Re-dedication

St Paul’s Church is preparing to replicate an Armistice Day service, 75 years after its original occurrence, while simultaneously re-unveiling a plaque dedicated to those who died in World War Two. The memorial, which originated from the now-demolished Ryhope Grammar School in Sunderland, was found at a car boot sale and subsequently donated to St Paul’s Church in the city. A family member of one of the fallen individuals disclosed that she still possesses the original order of service from November 11, 1949. The Reverend David Chadwick, Vicar of St Paul’s, stated: “Holding exactly the same service felt like the right thing to do.” Mr. Chadwick recounted how the initiative began: “It all began a few years ago when a man knocked on my door and asked if the church would like a memorial plaque he’d bought.” He added that the man “traced the names back to the Grammar School and felt it should be back in Ryhope.” Mr. Chadwick then obtained permission from the Church of England to install the plaque at St Paul’s, a place where some of the commemorated men may have worshipped. Among the names listed was Thomas Akenhead, who served in the RAF and was shot down. “We had a stroke of luck,” Mr Chadwick said, “because my Mum got talking to a friend at her church and it turns out Thomas Akenhead was her uncle and she still had the order of service.” The service, scheduled for 19:00 GMT, will feature the four hymns sung in 1949, and the names will be read out precisely as they were 75 years ago. “Even if hardly anyone remembers them any more, hearing their name humanises them,” Mr Chadwick said. He further commented: “They were people and they had lives in front of them that were taken away by war.” Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.