I am always moved by how many people come to the war memorial in Slindon on Remembrance Sunday, (10.50 10th November), where we read out the names of all who died in the two World Wars from our three villages of Eartham, Madehurst and Slindon. For some (good) reason, the numbers of people who mark Remembrance Sunday, having gone down towards the end of the C20th, have increased. Maybe that is something to do with the various centenaries we’ve had marking different events from the First World War or because people realise that serving veterans from WWII will soon no longer be with us.
I am moved and saddened by how many names there are from three small villages – almost all of them from lower ranks – men who one minute were ploughing in the tranquillity of a West Sussex farm, then facing the hell of a trench in Flanders. In the service that follows the wreath-laying, I always try to talk in more detail about one of the people whose names were read out – and I am grateful for the research done in all three of our villages.
There are many aspects to this Remembrance: from the sadness and grief for individuals and our communities behind the names, through to our commitment to work for peace, which should make us reflect on how we get on with our neighbours. Jesus, in the opening words of the Sermon on the Mount – in the beauty of the Beatitudes – said: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God”. My experience, whether at home, at school in the playground, or as adults living in community, is there are people who make peace and those, who for whatever reason, do not. So, Remembrance perhaps is also a time to look at ourselves..
St Mary’s Slindon has something I have never seen in any parish church before. In the lady chapel, on the south wall is a list of all those from the village who fought in the First World War, (that is quite common); what is unique is they are listed in a certain order: first the Royal Navy, then army regulars (i.e. those in the professional army before the war broke out), then “volunteers” (those who joined before 1916), and finally “corralled”. The last group are those who were forced to join by conscription – as in corralling a sheep, meaning forcing it into a pen.
I really am not sure about such a judgement. I can see the argument that someone who volunteers to fight for their country might be seen in a different light from those conscripted – but the conscript might have fought equally bravely and are they not equal in death? And then what about conscientious objectors who were often vilified. There is a large body of writing about many of them, who were often brave (and often went to the front as stretcher-bearers). So, I am asked to reflect on judgement. Jesus, again in the Sermon on the Mount, says: “Judge not that you be not judged”. Hmm!
And finally in November St Mary’s has a more personal service of remembrance for those whom we have loved and known and who have died. It is at 6.00pm on 3rd November – more details in the Rambling Rector – but it is a quiet, gentle and reflective service and all are welcome.
Peter