This Sunday at 11.02am, All Saints Anglican Church will be ringing the bell of the historic Selwyn Church after two minutes of silence to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I.
They will be part of a nation-wide “roaring chorus” echoing the celebrations that greeted news of peace in November 1918. Describing events at the time, a reporter for the Evening Post wrote “There were songs and cheers, miscellaneous pipings and blastings, and tootings and rattlings-a roaring chorus of gladsome sounds.”
As part of a government initiative, organisations and community groups across the country are being encouraged to “gather whatever ‘instruments’ they have at hand, and help create a roaring chorus of jubilant sound that once again celebrates peace and hope for the future.”
Andrew Coyle, vicar of All Saints, said, “Our kids enjoy joining in music on a Sunday with drums, tambourines, and shakers, so we are going to give them an opportunity to really let rip! Peace, wherever and whenever it happens, is something we want to celebrate so we would like to invite anyone who would like to bring an instrument or noise-maker to come and be a part of this”.
“We thought ringing the bell would be an appropriate way to acknowledge the pain of past conflicts”, said Andrew, “and making a joyful noise with our other instruments is a way of expressing our present hopes for peace in the world.”
- All Saints will be remembering those who have died in war and praying for peace at their 7.30am and 9.30am services this Sunday.
The Selwyn Church on the corner of Selwyn Road and Cook Street is the oldest building in Manukau.
