On a very warm and sunny Sunday afternoon, West Lancashire Freemasons and their families gathered together in Blackpool to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe at the end of World War Two.
The service was held in the beautiful Parish Church of St Anne, Greenlands, which is located in Bispham near Blackpool and is ministered by Provincial Grand Chaplain, Reverend Canon John Hall. The service began with a procession of Masonic banners from a range of lodges ahead of the Provincial Grand Master, Mark Matthews. As the organ played a beautiful entrance march, the banners moved towards the altar of the church led by North Fylde Group Chairman John Cross, who himself carried the Union Flag. Under the direction of Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies Ryan Modlin, the banners were placed against the walls of the church and the processional team and Mark took their seats.
Following a rousing rendition of four verses of the hymn Jerusalem, there was a very warm introduction by Canon Hall, who introduced the extremely skilled organist, Philip Berry. Canon Hall continued the introduction as to why everyone had all gathered together with lodge banners to commemorate and to remember those who had given their lives in wartime and those who continue to strive for peace on the continent of Europe. This was followed by the patriotic hymn, I Vow to Thee My Country, which was sung with great passion. Mark delivered a reading from the Bible, Micah 4:1-4 and the congregation sang a third hymn, Lord for the Years.
A very moving oration by Canon Hall then followed, and he gave a very interesting insight into the Parish Church of St Anne, Greenlands, the church being designed similar to the magnificent Metropolitan Roman Catholic Cathedral in Liverpool. Canon Hall commented that only the previous day the church had welcomed dogs into the building. He spoke about how dogs were used in wartime in a number of ways to support the troops. Canon Hall also referred to areas of the Fylde Coast being used as billeting centres for troops, and it was fascinating to learn that the famous World War One poet and army officer Wilfred Owen MC (Military Cross) had been based in the North Euston Hotel, Fleetwood, prior to being sent to France, where he was killed in action, aged 25 years, following numerous tours of duty.
Canon Hall reflected on his youth, growing up in the small town of Adlington in the Borough of Chorley. In particular, he gave a powerful insight into how one local man, a shopkeeper who ran the corner store, taught John how to count by determining how many potatoes made up a five-pound bag. He was mindful that the shopkeeper was an older gentleman, a confirmed bachelor, and wore a very impressive ring on his third finger. It was also this very same man that, along with a friend and two close female friends during wartime, worked for the de Havilland Aircraft Company on the outskirts of North London.
Sadly, the shopkeeper lost his three friends when the aircraft factory was destroyed in a bombing campaign during the weekend in which he had returned to Adlington. On returning to de Havilland on the Monday morning, he found the factory in ruins and he personally located the remains of his friends. He removed the rings from the fingers of his three friends and had them melted down and one very special ring made from the gold. This made a lasting impression on the young John Hall and he completed his oration by asking the congregation to give thanks for the sacrifices of the past and to remember all those who continue to strive for peace.
A series of prayers and collects followed the oration and Mark lit a candle in memory of those brethren who gave their lives in World War Two. This was followed by a rendition of The Last Post and Reveille played so beautifully by Barry Thompson of Wayfarers Lodge No 7544.
Following a powerful rendition of God Save the King, Canon Hall gave a blessing and invited everyone to partake in some light refreshments of cake and a cup of coffee or tea.
At the conclusion of the event, Mark thanked everyone for their attendance at the delightful thanksgiving service but especially thanking Martin Clements and Canon John Hall for organising and delivering such a special event. Mark went on to say that everybody had enjoyed the ceremony and the refreshments, kindly served by the wardens of this beautiful church, Mark also extending grateful thanks to the church wardens.
