Battle of Britain commemorated at Westminster Abbey: The Church of England Newspaper, Oct 1, 2010 p 4.

The Dean of Westminster Abbey received Fighter Command's Ensign on Sept 19 to be laid up in the RAF Memorial Chapel

First published in The Church of England Newspaper.

Westminster Abbey played host last week for the commemoration of the 70^th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Over 300 serving members of the RAF joined 24 veterans of the Battle of Britain and the Prince of Wales, at the Sept 19 memorial service, where Fighter Command’s silk Ensign was paraded for the last time before being laid up in the Royal Air Force Memorial Chapel.

Newly qualified RAF Search and Rescue pilot Prince William joined his father and the Duchess of Cornwall, Prime Minister David Cameron, the Secretary of State for Defence Liam Fox, and the Chief of the Air Staff Sir Stephen Dalton for the service of thanksgiving.  Outside the Abbey a fly past by a Spitfire, Hurricane and 4 Tornado jets concluded the service.

The service led by the Dean of Westminster Abbey, Dr. John Hall, included an Act of Remembrance during which the Battle of Britain Roll of Honour was borne from the Grave of the Unknown Warrior in the Chapel of St George and escorted to the Sacrarium.

In his sermon the Chaplain in Chief of the Royal Air Force, the Ven. Ray Pentland stated “70 years ago our nation stood on the brink of invasion. Churchill declared ‘I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation’.”

“This turning point in our nation’s history is the story of victory and of salvation. It is the story of Cam’s Hurricane, Mitchell’s spitfire, Dowding’s preparation, Park’s strategy and Churchill’s leadership. It is the story of the thousands who plotted and planned; who engineered and served; who loved and lost; who fought and won. It is the story of victory against all odds. It is the story of the few and the debt we owe. Could they have dreamt that it would really become our finest hour?  Could they have imagined that the work of their hands would become the salvation of our nation?”

“Through their bravery our freedom was won,” Archdeacon Pentland said.

The chief of the Air Staff Sir Stephen Dalton stated “the Battle of Britain continues to inspire the Royal Air Force – not least those who are deployed on operations today in Afghanistan and the South Atlantic.”

“Whilst the current threats Britain faces are very different, the air power that the Royal Air Force delivers today continues to provide the security of our skies and the critical and precise support of our soldiers and marines on the ground. Just as in 1940, the spirit, courage and determination of our airmen and women sustain our success on operations,” he said.

Battle of Britain Sunday commemorates the July 10 to Oct 31 1940 air battle 10 July to 31 October 1940 which Sir Winston Church described as “one of the decisive battles of the war.”

“The gratitude of every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the World War by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few,” Churchill told Parliament on Aug 20, 1940.