The Borough Service of Remembrance
2025
Howard Smith, Mayor
led by Canon Simon Butler,
Rector, Holy Trinity & St Mary’s, Guildford
Sunday 9" November 2025
Hymn
A retiring collection will be taken for the
StAnne
Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal
During the hymn, Standards are received.
and charities supported by the parish
O God, our help in ages past,
or you can donate online
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home;
Under the shadow of thy throne
thy saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defence is Sure.
Before the hills in order stood,
or earth receivedher frame,
from everlasting thou art God,
to endless years the same.
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A thousand ages in thy sight
are like an evening gone,
short as the watch that ends the night
Music before the service:
before the rising sun.
Nimrod = Sir Edward Elgar, arr. William Harris
Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Please stand at the entrance of the Civic Procession
bears allits sons away;
they fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day.
Welcome
O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
We meet in the presence of God.
We commit ourselves to work in penitence and faith
for reconciliation between the nations,
that all people may, together, live in freedom, justice and peace.
We pray for all who in bereavement, disability and pain
continue to suffer the consequences of fighting and terror.
We remember with thanksgiving and sorrow
those whose lives, in world wars and conflicts past and
present, have been given and taken away.
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be thou our guard while troubles last,
and our eternal home.
Paraphrase of Psalm 90, Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Act of Penitence
Let us confess to God the sins and shortcomings of the world; its
pride, its selfishness, its greed; its evil divisions and hatreds. Let us
confess our share in what is wrong, and our failure to seek and
establish that peace which God wills for all people.
Silence for personal acknowledgement of responsibility before God.
First Reading: Micah 4:1-5
Read by Councillor Julia McShane, Leader, Guildford Borough Council
In days to come the mountainof the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised up above the hills.
Peoples shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say:
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
From the hatred which divides nation from nation,
and race from race,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From the covetous desires of nations to possess what
is not their own,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From the greed which lays waste the earth,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned,
the homeless, the refugee,
Good Lord, deliver us.
that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more;
but they shall all sit under their own vines
and under their own fig trees,
and no one shall make them afraid;
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.
May the God of love and power forgive you and free
For all the peoples walk, each in the name of its god,
you from your sins, heal and strengthen you by his Spirit, —
but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.
and raise you to new life in all its fullness.
Amen.
A Local Regiment Perspective
O Lord, our maker and our strength,
from whose love we cannot be parted,
either by death or life;
hear our prayers and thanksgivings
for all whom we remember this day;
fulfil in them the purpose of your love
and bring us all, with them, to your eternal joy,
for your mercy’s sake. Amen.
Please sit.
Colonel (Retd) Patrick Crowley MA MBE DL
Hymn
us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or
St Botolph
famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake
During the hymn, wreaths are laid at the Queen’s Memorial.
How good it is, what pleasure comes,
when people live as one.
When peace and justice light the way
the will of God is done.
we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be
slaughtered.’
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who
loved us. For | am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height,
nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
True friendship thenlike fragrant oil
surrounds us with delight;
-and blessings shine like morning dew
upon the mountain height.
Anthem
They that go down to the sea in ships
How good it is when walls of fear
Herbert Sumsion (1899-1995)
They that go down to the sea in ships:
come tumbling to the ground.
When arms are changed to farming tools
the fruits of life abound.
and occupy their business in great waters;
These men see the works of the Lord: and his wonders in the deep.
For at his word the stormy wind ariseth :
What quiet joy can bloom and grow
which lifteth up the waves thereof.
when people work for peace,
They are carried up to the heaven, and down again to the deep:
when hands and voices join as one
Their soul melteth away because of the trouble.
that hate and war may cease.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man:
Ruth C Duck (b. 1947), based on Psalm 133
© GIA Publications Inc., 7404 S Mason Avenue, Chicago, IL, USA
and are at their wits’ end.
So when they cry unto the Lord in their trouble:
he delivereth them out of their distress.
For he maketh the storm to cease: so that the waves thereof are still.
Then are they glad, because they are at rest:
Please sit.
and so he bringeth them unto the haven where they would be.
Second Reading: Romans 8:31-end
Words from Psalm 107
Read by Councillor Howard Smith, The Mayor of Guildford
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is
against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for
all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring
any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to
condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at
the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate
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The Sermon
Canon Chris Hollingshurst
Canon for Public Engagement, Guildford Cathedral
Poem
Hymn
Melita
During this hymn the collection is taken.
We shall keep the faith by Moina Michael
Read by Mr. Pedro Wrobel, Joint Chief Executive,
Guildford Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council
Eternal Father, strong to save,
whose arm doth bind the restless wave,
Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
who bid'st the mighty ocean deep
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
its own appointed limits keep;
We caught the torch you threw
O hear us when we cry to Thee
And holding high, we keep the Faith
for those in peril on the sea.
With All who died.
O Christ, the Universal Lord,
who suffered death by nails and sword,
We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valour led;
from all assault of deadly foe
It seems to signal to the skies
sustain thy soldiers where they go;
That blood of heroes never dies,
and evermore hold in thy hand
all those in peril on the land.
But lendsa lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.
O Holy Spirit, Lord of grace
who fills with strength the human race;
And now the Torch and Poppy Red
teach us to use that strength aright;
guide all who dare the eagle's flight;
We wear in honour of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought
and underneath thy wings of care
guard all from peril in the air.
In Flanders Fields.
O Trinity of love and power!
Thy servants shield in danger's hour;
Prayers
Led by The Canon Simon Butler, Rector HTSM Guildford
from rock and tempest, fire and foe,
protect them wheresoe’er they go;
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
thus evermore shall rise to Thee,
praise from the air, the land and sea.
Please sit for prayer.
William Whiting (1825-1878)
Adapted for tri-service use
We pray for the leaders of the nations,
that you will guide them in the ways of freedom, justice and truth.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who bear arms on behalf of the nation,
that we may have discipline and discernment,
courage and compassion.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
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Hymn
We pray for our enemies, and those who wish us harm,
Gelobt sei Gott
that you will turn the hearts of all to kindness and friendship.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
During the hymn, the Standards are returned to the bearers.
We pray for the wounded and the captive,
The strife is o'er, the battle done;
the grieving and the homeless,
that in all their trials they may know your love and support.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
now is the Victor's triumph won;
O let the song of praise be sung: Alleluia.
Death's mightiest powers have done their worst,
We pray for those who need our prayers today...Silence follows.
and Jesus hath his foes dispersed;
Most holy God and Father,
let shouts of praise and joy outburst: Alleluia.
hear our prayers for all who strive for peace
On the third morn he rose again
and all who fight for justice.
glorious in majesty to reign;
Help us, who today remember the cost of war,
O let us swell the joyful strain: Alleluia.
to work for a better tomorrow;
and, as we commend to you lives lost in terror and conflict,
bring us all, in the end, to the peace of your presence;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord, by the stripes which wounded thee
from death's dread sting thy servants free,
that we may live, and sing to thee: Alleluia.
Latin, Probably 17 Century, tr. Francis Pott (1832-1909)
We join our prayers with all who pray the words Jesus taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Closing Prayer
Most gracious God
hallowed be thy name:
thy kingdom come; thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
in your willis our peace.
Turn our hearts to yourself
that, by the power of the Spirit,
Give us this day our daily bread.
the peace that is founded on righteousness
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
might be established throughout the world,
for the glory of your name. Amen.
The Standard-bearers leave and the Church Procession departs.
The congregation is asked to leave church immediately in order to
for ever and ever. Amen.
watch the Civic Procession, or to make your way to the Castle
Grounds. Please take this Order of Service with you.
The Civic Procession then leaves the church.
Organ:
Toccata on Psalm 146 "Prijs den Heer met blijde galmen"
Jan Zwart (1877-1937)
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ie
On leaving the Church
Ceremony at Castle Grounds
All veterans, cadets and youth groups who are to march to the Castle Grounds
will form up in threes along the Upper High Street on markers placed on the
street in advance. Those veterans who feel that they cannot march with their
Officiant
Most holy God
hear our prayers for all who strive for peace
detachments should make their way to the castle in advance.
and all who fight for justice.
Order of the march
Help us, who today remember the cost of war,
Friary Brass Band
to work for a better tomorrow;
Queen's Regiment, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment and Combined Veterans
and, as we commend to you lives lost in terror and conflict,
Women’s Royal Army Corps Association
bring us all, in the end, to the peace of your presence;
National Malaya and Borneo Veterans’ Association
where you live and reign in perfect harmony.
Royal Air Force Association
Amen.
All
War Widow’s Association
Armed Forces Serving Personnel
Royal Marine/Sea Cadets
Let us remember before God, and commend to his keeping
Army Cadet Force
those who have died for their country in war,
Air Training Corps
those whom we knew, and whose memory we treasure,
St John Ambulance
and all those who have lived and died in the service of
Cubs/Scouts/Brownies/Guides
others.
The Salvation Army/Rotary Club/Guildford Lions
Any individual laying a wreath on behalf of an organization or relative
When the Parade is formed up, a roll on the side drum will be the signal for the
Parade to be stood correctly “At Ease”.
All remain still as a local veteran reads the Exhortation:
:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
The ParadeMarshal will give “Parade Shun” followed by “First detachment, by
age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn;
the left, Quick March”.
at the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
The Band and the first detachment will step off, in quick time, other
we will remember them.
detachments will step off in turn under instruction from their own commanders.
All detachments will give an ‘Eyes Left’ to the Mayor and party as they pass the
We will remember them.
All
ceremonial steps of Holy Trinity.
The two-minute silence is sounded by the Last Post.
Procedure on arrival at Castle Grounds
The Band will march through the gate, wheel to the left, and continue playing
The silence is ended by the Reveille,
from the balcony.
No detachment commander is to order ‘Halt’ or ‘Mark Time’ on approaching the
gate. Break order of march if necessary but keep moving (under the instruction
A local veteran leads the Kohima Epitaph:
When you go home, tell them of us and say,
of the stewards) to your allocated area on the bowling green.
Wreath bearers should peel off at this stage and form up, in rows, at the front of
All
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for your tomorrow, we gave our today.
right of the main bowling green (facing the Castle) to await the arrival of the
clergy, mayor, councillors and other dignitaries.
Wreaths are laid at two Memorials. Choirs sing as this takes place.
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Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring memy spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
| will not cease from mental fight,
nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
till we have built Jerusalem
in England's green and pleasant land.
William Blake
Blessing
God grant to the living, grace; to the departed, rest;
to the Church, the King, the Commonwealth and all
humanity, peace and concord; and to us and all his
servants, life everlasting; and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
National Anthem
God save our gracious King,
long live our noble King,
God save the King.
Send him victorious,
happy and glorious,
long to reign over us;
God save the King.
Thy choicest gifts in store,
on him be pleased to pour,
long may he reign.
May he defend our laws,
and ever give us cause
to sing with heart and voice,
God save the King.
Please wait while the Choirs and Civic Procession leave
the Castle Grounds.
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