Glasgow Cathedral leads Commonwealth in First World War Commemoration

                                                                                                                                                  Monday August 4, 2014

COMMONWEALTH leaders gathered today (Mon) at Glasgow Cathedral for a special service to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.

The service was attended by guests including HRH the Duke of Rothesay, Prime Minister David Cameron, First Minister Alex Salmond and Glasgow Lord Provost Sadie Docherty, along with heads of state from many of the Commonweath nations which took part in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, which closed yesterday.

The hour-long service was led by the Rev Laurence Whitley who said: “Our service today carries no single simple message… for there is none. We can only bow in acknowledgement of extraordinary courage and commitment.”

The service, which included a special prayer published in the August issue of Life and Work (read here) was closed with a benediction by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev John Chalmers.

Mr Chalmers said: "“We need to use the opportunity of this commemoration to learn new lessons for the future.
 
“We should think about why it is that when there are differences between countries and between philosophies, we often turn to deep conflict as a way of resolving them.

“After WW1, we didn’t construct the best of peace. Perhaps we didn’t know enough about how to negotiate or how to mediate.
 
“Now, 100 years later, I hope we can be quite intentional about learning lessons that will restrain us from heading towards conflict every time there is a difference so that lives are not squandered.
 
“Some conflicts happening today are a legacy of how the world changed as a result of WW1.”

The Moderator will also take part in a special vigil tonight at Dunfermline Abbey, led by the minister, the Rev MaryAnn Rennie. The service will begin at 10pm. Read more here.

A vigil will also take place at Glasgow Cathedral from 10pm.

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