Each year St Mary’s Church, Whitkirk leads the community’s observance of Remembrance Sunday at the War Memorial on Selby Road.
We are pleased to welcome civic representatives, serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans, members of the emergency services, uniformed organisations, community groups and members of the wider community to join us.
This page explains how the morning works, how to take part in the procession and wreath laying, and what participants should expect on the day.
The morning
Broadly speaking, Remembrance Sunday at Whitkirk has three parts:
- A Sung Eucharist at St Mary’s, beginning at 9.30 am.
- A formal procession from the church to the War Memorial on Selby Road.
- The Act of Remembrance, including the two-minute silence and laying of wreaths.
After the Act of Remembrance, everyone is invited back to the Community Centre for refreshments.
The Sung Eucharist
The Eucharist begins at 9.30 am, earlier than our usual Sunday service to allow time for the procession and Act of Remembrance.
All are welcome to join us for this service, whether or not you usually attend St Mary’s.
Those who are unable or do not wish to attend the Eucharist are still very welcome to join the procession or attend the Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial.
Taking part formally
If you or your organisation would like to take part in an organised capacity, please let us know beforehand.
This includes anyone wishing to:
- lay a wreath;
- parade a flag or standard;
- take part as a uniformed organisation;
- attend in an official civic capacity; or
- bring an organised group as part of the procession.
Advance notice allows us to include everybody in the formal arrangements and to make sure the procession and Act of Remembrance run smoothly.
Please note that participating individuals and organisations are responsible for providing their own wreaths, flags, standards and uniforms, where applicable.
The procession
Following the Eucharist, the formal procession forms outside St Mary’s before moving to the War Memorial on Selby Road.
The procession is led by the church party in the customary liturgical order used at St Mary’s. Civic and ceremonial participants then follow, with precedence broadly based on Royal British Legion guidance.
The usual order is broadly:
- Church party, led by the verger and including the thurifer, processional cross and lights, choir, clergy and churchwardens
- The Lord-Lieutenant or Deputy Lieutenant
- The Lord Mayor or other senior civic representative
- Member of Parliament and local ward councillors
- The Union Flag
- Royal British Legion standards
- Standards of other ex-Service organisations
- Serving members of the Armed Forces
- Reserve Forces
- Veterans and ex-Service organisations
- Emergency services
- Uniformed voluntary services
- Cadet forces
- Scouts, Guides and other uniformed youth organisations
- Other civic and community organisations
- The congregation and wider public
Not every category will be represented every year, and the exact formation may vary according to those taking part.
Participants in the formal procession should assemble where directed by the verger, churchwardens or stewards.
Please remain in your allocated place unless asked to move.
Ceremonial flags and standards
We welcome appropriate ceremonial flags and standards as part of the Sung Eucharist, formal procession and Act of Remembrance.
This normally includes the Union Flag, Royal British Legion and other ex-Service association standards, service and cadet colours, flags and standards of the emergency services, and the recognised flags or standards of uniformed youth and voluntary organisations.
If you intend to parade a flag or standard, please let us know beforehand.
Standard bearers should arrive in good time before the 9.30 am Eucharist and report to the verger or churchwardens for instructions.
Flags and standards are normally presented at the beginning of the Eucharist and placed in the church for the duration of the service. They are then collected again during the last hymn before the formal procession forms outside St Mary’s.
The verger and churchwardens will advise standard bearers where to stand, when to present and retrieve their standard, and where they fit within the procession and at the War Memorial.
Flags and banners from other groups, including those used for promotional, commercial, campaigning or party-political purposes, will not be included in the formal procession.
St Mary’s does not provide flags, standards or uniforms for participating organisations. Organisations taking part are responsible for bringing any flag, standard or uniform they intend to use, and for ensuring that it is appropriate to their organisation and complies with any ceremonial rules which apply to them.
At the War Memorial
On arrival at the War Memorial, participating groups are directed to their positions before the Act of Remembrance begins.
Please remain with your group and follow the directions of the verger, churchwardens and stewards.
Standards, civic representatives, wreath layers and organised groups may be positioned separately from the wider congregation so that ceremonial movements can take place safely and without interruption.
The Act of Remembrance begins shortly before 11.00 am, with the two-minute silence observed at 11.00 am.
Laying a wreath
Anyone wishing to lay a wreath as part of the organised Act of Remembrance should let us know in advance. Anyone may lay a wreath, but letting us know helps things run smoothly.
Participants are responsible for providing their own wreath. St Mary’s does not supply wreaths on behalf of visiting individuals or organisations.
The order of wreath laying is agreed beforehand according to civic and ceremonial precedence and the organisations represented.
The usual order is broadly:
- The Lord-Lieutenant or Deputy Lieutenant
- The Lord Mayor or other senior civic representative
- Serving Armed Forces
- The Royal British Legion and other veterans’ organisations
- Member of Parliament
- Local ward councillors
- Emergency services
- Cadet and other uniformed organisations
- St Mary’s Church, Whitkirk
- Other civic and community organisations
- Individuals
The precise order is confirmed once we know who will be taking part.
When it is your turn to lay a wreath:
- Move forward carrying the wreath, with it facing away from you;
- Approach the memorial;
- Place the wreath where directed, facing outwards towards you, with its dedication visible;
- Step back;
- Pause briefly with your head bowed; and
- Return to your place.
Please do not move, rearrange or reposition wreaths which have already been laid.
The character of the occasion
Remembrance Sunday at Whitkirk is a solemn community occasion, bringing together people and organisations from across the parish and wider community.
We ask everyone taking part to help preserve the dignity and inclusive character of the occasion.
Wreaths may carry a discreet card or dedication identifying the person or organisation on whose behalf they are laid. Any decoration, wording or identification should be appropriate to the character of Remembrance and should not detract from its purpose.
We also ask participants to avoid campaigning, promotional activity, or the display or distribution of material which would be out of keeping with the occasion.
These expectations apply equally to all individuals and organisations taking part.
Photography and filming
Remembrance Sunday will be live streamed, including the Sung Eucharist, procession, and Act of Remembrance. If you or a member of your organisation does not wish to appear on camera, please let us know before the service. Please note that the procession and Act of Remembrance are public events and St Mary’s cannot control who may be taking photographs or filming in a public place.
Please remember the nature of the occasion and avoid photography or filming which disrupts the service, procession or Act of Remembrance, particularly during the two-minute silence.
Media organisations or anyone planning organised filming should contact us beforehand.
Accessibility
The procession involves walking from St Mary’s Church to the War Memorial on Selby Road. This is a distance of approximately 500m.
Those who are unable to join the procession are very welcome to make their own way to the memorial or remain at the Community Centre. Please note that Selby Road will be closed to traffic between St Mary’s and the War Memorial for the duration of the procession, Act of Remembrance and return procession.
Wherever possible, we relay the Act of Remembrance live to the Community Centre so that those who are unable to make the journey to the War Memorial can still take part.
If you have particular accessibility requirements, please let us know in advance and we will do our best to help.
On the day
Please follow the directions of the verger, churchwardens and stewards throughout the procession and Act of Remembrance.
The exact arrangements may occasionally need to change because of weather, safety considerations, attendance or other circumstances.
Our aim is to make sure that everyone who wishes to participate can do so with dignity and that the Act of Remembrance remains a fitting occasion for the whole community.
Let us know you are taking part
If you or your organisation would like to lay a wreath, parade a flag or standard, join the procession in an organised capacity or discuss any particular requirements, please contact us before Remembrance Sunday. This helps us make sure that everyone can be properly included in the arrangements.