Bells of Peace Around the Diocese

On November 11, at the going down of the sun (which in our vicinity was 4:36pm), communities across Canada marked the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War with the ringing of 100 bells. The ringing of bells emulated the moment in 1918, when church bells across Europe tolled as four years of war had come to an end.

In order to create a unified action in Canada, The Royal Canadian Legion (Canada Veteran's Affairs) requested that all Churches/House of Worship/Religious Organizations in Canada who possess a bell(s) participate.

Patricia Gagne the National Legion staff member responsible for the initiative contacted the Primate’s Office in Toronto and the request was forwarded to diocesan bishops and others.

There was an excellent response from the Diocese of New Westminster. As of this writing on November 13, diocesan communications has information that: St. Mary’s, Kerrisdale (SMK); St. Christopher, West Vancouver; Christ Church Cathedral; St. “Bart’s” in Gibson’s; St. Hilda, Sechelt; St. Barnabas, New Westminster; St. Agnes, North Vancouver (in conjunction with the North Vancouver Legion); St. John the Divine, Maple Ridge participated in Bells of Peace.

There may of course be more and please if you haven’t done so already send Patsy Gagne an email and let her know about what happened at your parish.

Thanks to Jane Dittrich of Christ Church Cathedral for the photo of the altar and the activity at SMK.

Other photos used were found on the Facebook pages of members of the diocese. There was a very good crowd gathered at St. Christopher, West Vancouver which is the first photo used in this post. The photo was discovered on the rector's (the Reverend Karen Urquhart) Facebook page.

IMAGES

• The folks gathered outside of St. Christopher's
• The altar at Christ Church Cathedral
• Ringing the bell at St. Barnabas
• At SMK
• At SMK rector and warden at the entrance at 4:35pm