Stories of remembrance - St Thomas a Becket, Hamburg
Chaplain of Hamburg, Revd Jules Barnes reflects
Revd Jules Barnes, chaplain of St Thomas a Becket church in Hamburg reflects on the story.
The BBC shared the story of Mabel Wulff; caretaker of the church in Hamburg whose many acts of bravery helped save lives and the church in Hamburg during World War two.
Revd Jules Barnes said:
We have always known about Mabel, as she was a member of church and part of our folk history. There is a small plaque to her memory in the building.
In 2018 we had a year-long '180th birthday celebration' for the present building (the congregation has been here way longer, well over 400 years, but this was to mark the anniversary of our building in Zeughausmarkt.) During this year, we did lots of things - including researching in much greater depth more about Mabel (we have a few historians).
On Sunday they will mark Remembrance Day:
We will hold a Eucharist with Act of Remembrance. Serving British and German officers who are training jointly here in Hamburg will attend, and take part - including in the laying of wreaths. We have a full time 'British Forces Liaison' officer resident here in Hamburg who co-ordinates this.
Then afterwards, those who wish move on to the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery (north Hamburg) where there is another short Act of Remembrance.
Like most European chaplaincies, we're the only anglican church in town and region. So, attending our service will also be folks from the local Caledonian Society, Arts Society and others.
Plus, it always makes a difference that our own regular worshipping congregation are from so many different nations too: we don't recall just Germans and the English at Remembrance - we have those who signed up in Ghanaian, US, Nigerian, HK, and the armed forces of many other nations too.