The Combined Services Annual Church Service 2018

Submitted by editorrnca on Sat, 23/12/2017 - 05:48

Received via CONA.
THE COMBINED SERVICES ANNUAL CHURCH SERVICE
2018
As has been our custom for the past twenty plus years, this
service will once again be held at
St. George’s Church, St. George’s
Square, The Hard, Portsea. PO1 3AT
on Sunday the 13th. May 2018
St. George’s Church was constructed in 1753 by about fifteen
Dockyard Shipwrights and three gentlemen, plus a grocer, a carpenter and a
Tallow Chandler. Completed in six months it was a Chapel until 1875 when it was
deemed to be a Church.
The area in and around St. George’s Square was severely damaged during the
second world war and it was closed until 1951. In 1952 preliminary restoration
took place and further works undertaken in 1972.
Today it is known locally as the “Shipwrights Church”, in honour of the men who
originally constructed it.
The Solent Division began to use it for their annual service
in 1985, to commemorate their inauguration but as we all age the numbers have
declined so we decided to open the service to all serving and veterans of the
Armed Forces and renamed it as above.
We would welcome all, including standards to a very simple
“Naval Service” of about half an hour duration after which we all meet up for a
bit of banter and some light refreshments, including a tot.
I can assure you that you will be well “looked after. (The venue to be decided
and depends on the approximate numbers who wish to get involved).
We are currently in the process of producing the “Order of
Service”, a copy of which will be distributed hopefully within the next six
weeks. Should you or your organisation wish to have an entry (Your Association,
Group, Division, etc), please advise by return. You may also wish to include a “special
prayer” or a specific hymn etc, which we would be pleased to consider.
Friends and family members would be welcomed, and the
service is open to all ex-service and serving members of the Armed Forces
Should you wish to attend please contact Bob Campbell
Secretary of the Solent Division HMSGA.
On (023) 8073 4915 or email [email protected].
There is no charge, but it is essential that you notify Bob as numbers may be limited.
 
Yours Aye,
 
Bob Campbell (Secretary Solent Division HMSGA)