Bells ring in Armistice centenary

Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney
Media Release

Bells ring in Armistice centenary

Bells at Anglican churches across Greater Sydney and the Illawarra will ring to mark 100 years since the signing of the Armistice which ended World War One.

Archbishop Glenn Davies has requested bells ring for one minute up to 11 am, which was the time of the signing and cessation of hostilities after four years of what became known as the Great War. It's understood church bells will ring out in other parts of Australia, as they did in 1918 to communicate news that war was over.

From a population of fewer than five million, more than 400 thousand Australian men enlisted, of which over 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner.

Services will be held in churches across Sydney, many parishes have moved services forward to allow people to attend both the church service and local cenotaph ceremonies.

Dignitaries will gather at St Andrew’s Cathedral at 9 am on Sunday, where the Premier, the Hon Gladys Berejiklian will be in attendance as well as the Governor, his Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley, who will lay a wreath.

The cathedral service will include elements of the service held 100 years ago to mark the occasion, taken from the original printed service sheet.

The bells in the tower of the cathedral will ring for one minute at 1059am.

Representatives of the Armed Forces will be in attendance and chaplains and serving personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force will be at various parish centres.

The main service at St Andrew’s Anglican Cathedral, Sydney Square (next to the Town Hall) will be at 9 am on 11th November led by the Dean, the Very Revd Kanishka Raffel. Dr Davies will preach at the service. Filming points and audio will be available. To arrange coverage or to access photos email the Archbishop’s Media Adviser, Russell Powell.