Remembrance 2024 in our Cathedrals

Our cathedrals will fall silent this Sunday as they honour those who gave their lives in the service of their country in conflicts past and present around the world.

Remembrance 2024

Poppies will fall from the central towers in Truro and Ely cathedrals, York Minster’s Great Peter Bell will toll eleven times and civic dignitaries will join military personnel up and down the country to mark this Remembrance Day.

This is just a selection of Remembrance events from a handful of our cathedrals. Do check your local cathedral for up-to-date information.

Durham Cathedral is getting ready to host the Festival of Remembrance, a decade-old tradition that has seen Durham Cathedral lead Remembrance events in the North East, commemorating the sacrifices of many in conflict over the years.

The festival of remembrance takes place on Saturday 9 November at 7.30pm

Durham’s Remembrance Sunday Service will start at 10.15am and will see representatives from the armed forces come together to remember those who have given their lives in service of their country, and those serving who put their lives at risk today.

Plans for the 80th Anniversary of VE Day in 2025 are already underway. More information in our VE Day 2025 section.

Ripon Cathedral will host a Civic Service of Remembrance on Sunday to remember those who have been and are still affected by conflicts across the world.

Cathedral’s Sung Eucharist will be held at the unusual time of 9.30am.

There will then be an Act of Commemoration in the Spa Gardens at 10.50am followed by the 21 Engineers parading through the city for a Remembrance Day Service in the cathedral at 11.40am.

A service will take place at Truro Cathedral between 10am and 11.30am on Sunday and it will be live-streamed.

The Act of Remembrance will also be repeated at the war memorial from 11am, with a civic procession from Truro Cathedral in preparation for the wreath laying service and two minute silence.

Award-winning poet, Sir Ben Okri will perform a moving tribute at Southwark Cathedral in honour of Armistice Day on Monday 11 November.

This special programme of words and music will feature readings by Sir Ben  alongside a selection of folk-infused musical pieces by George Butterworth, who died in the Battle of the Somme. It will also include Shostakovich’s Symphony for Strings, dedicated to the victims of fascism and war.

The music will be performed by Chromatica, a newly established orchestra focused on nurturing emerging musicians which had its successful debut in London last month.

Chromatica has received acclaim for its emotional depth and technical skill, as well as its commitment to educational outreach.

The annual service of Thanksgiving and Commemoration for Remembrance Sunday in York Minster will start at 10.30am and  will include music by the Choir of York Minster, hymns, readings, prayers and an Act of Remembrance at 11am in unison with the commemorations across the city, when Great Peter will toll eleven times followed by the Two Minutes’ Silence.

To conclude the commemorations on Remembrance Sunday, the Choir of York Minster will sing a contemplative service of Holy Communion with Fauré’s Requiem.

Both services will be livestreamed on the Minster’s YouTube channel.

A Two Minutes’ Silence will be observed in York Minster on Armistice Day.

Wells Cathedral will also hold several Remembrance events, beginning with a special Sunday Eucharist on 10 November at 10:30am, incorporating an Act of Remembrance with music by Elgar, Howells, and James MacMillan. Later that day, the Cathedral Choir and Wells Cathedral School Chamber Choir will perform Fauré’s Requiem at 3pm, featuring readings and a poppy drop in support of the Poppy Appeal. On Armistice Day, there will be a short Act of Remembrance at the Cathedral’s War Memorial in the North Transept at 11am.