Hundreds gather for St Andrew’s Church Remembrance Mass

Centenary of start of the First World War makes commemoration of the fallen by St Andrew’s an especially poignant event.

Wearing red poppies to commemorate the lives of those killed in wars, British and Commonwealth servicemen at the remembrance day service in St Andrew’s Church. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

ABU DHABI // Hundreds of worshippers, military officers and dignitaries gathered at St Andrew’s Church on Sunday to remember and honour service personnel who have died for their countries.

The remembrance mass is an annual tradition at the Anglican church, said Andrew Thompson, senior chaplain.

This year’s service was especially significant because it commemorated the centenary of the start of the First World War.

The tradition “began with the remembrance of the First World War, the 11th day, the 11th month of the 11th hour marked on this day [in 1918], the day when the First World War was finished,” said Mr Thompson.

The Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak, attended the service.

The United States ambassador to the UAE, Michael Corbin, read Psalm 23, and British ambassador Philip Parham recited a gospel reading from the New Testament.

Mr Parham also placed a poppy wreath of remembrance against the altar. Representatives from the Church of Pakistan, the Roman Catholic Church and the Korean Methodist Church were also present.

Following the long-standing remembrance day tradition, many in attendance wore red paper poppies on their chests. The poppies were distributed for a donation at the church’s entrance.

"The tradition of wearing the poppies goes back to In Flanders Field, it's a very famous poem; the poppy, the colour of blood, is a visual reminder of the lives laid down, the sacrifices made for freedom," Mr Thompson said.

Remembrance day is commemorated at 11am on November 11 by Commonwealth countries. At that hour, a moment of silence is observed to remember and honour fallen soldiers.

The remembrance mass is held annually on the first Sunday closest to November 11.

"During the service we sing some hymns and, as an act of remembrance, a poppy wreath is laid to remember those who gave their lives in war," Mr Thompson said. "One of the traditions which is very haunting is the Last Post," which, he explained, is when a bugle signals the beginning of period of silence.

Dozens of children from Abu Dhabi Scouts and British Girl Guides lined the entrance to the church as they waved flags to welcome the guests.

Colin McFarlane, Explorer Scout leader with the 1st Abu Dhabi Explorer Scouts, said it was important to involve the youth in the ceremony.

“It’s part of being part of the community, the majority of them are British, but not all of them,” Mr McFarlane said. “Back in the UK, it’s a big occasion every year and I think they can see what goes on in the service a little bit more and just feel part of the community.”

There were also about a dozen uniformed military officers, some of whom are stationed in Abu Dhabi to help train the UAE Air Force.

“The world now is engaged in more conflict than ever before, and there are people here tonight who will have loved ones in armed conflict,” Mr Thompson said.

“It’s a very emotional occasion. What I hope they take away is a source of comfort, to be comforted by the fact that we do remember those who gave their lives. That they go away with a commitment to make the world a better place.”

Lynn Nelson, who arrived in Abu Dhabi just a few days ago with her husband, Father Peter Nelson, to visit their daughter, said the service was “very profound”.

"I thought the poetry was very, very poignant," said Mrs Nelson, referring to The Parable of the Old Man and the Young, written by Wilfred Owen, and Attack, by Siegfried Sassoon.

“It honoured the sacrifice and yet highlighted the sense of a call to peace and I think all of us can identify with that desire.”