Poppies are flowering across our new diocese as we mark the anniversary of the outbreak of WW1
Poppies planted to mark the centenary of WW1 by churches and church communities across the new diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales when it was first created in April, are beginning to flourish as we mark the anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.
As the country came together this week in a collective moment of remembrance and commemoration to mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, the poppy became a potent symbol for the event.
Poppies were left on all the pews and handed to everyone at the Commemorative Service in Glasgow Cathedral on Monday morning and this week, the art installation, Blood Swept Land and Seas of Red made of ceramic poppies was unveiled in the moat at the Tower of London in memory of British soldiers who fell during the First World War. Volunteers will continue to “plant” the 888,246 handmade poppies to represent the number of Britons who fell during the conflict until the last one is laid on Armistice Day on November 11.
Pictured here is the poppy installation at The Tower of London.
As our churches, our church communities and our cathedrals marked the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War with commemorative services, lights out vigils, exhibitions, poetry corners, peace walks and yesterday, many of you reported that your poppies had flowered already or were beginning to flourish.
Pictured here are poppies flowering this week in Penny Pocket Park opposite Leeds Minster. These were planted by Bishop Nick, with the help of schoolchildren from St Peter’s School, the Lord Mayor of Leeds, other civic leaders and representatives, the RBL and local clergy.
In Brighouse, Helen Lever, the Principal St John’s Academy, Brighhouse reported that some of their poppies made an appearance in the school playground just as the school broke for the summer term, last week. Pictured here we can see the children's prayers were answered as they prayed together as they planted their poppies with vicar, the Revd Andrew Hall.
And poppies are flourishing in gardens, barracks, businesses, hotels and even the famous racecourse in Ripon after local former Royal British Legion Volunteer, Albert Weidermann took the diocesan poppy campaign to heart and decided he wanted to make his town awash with poppies the next four years.