On Sunday, November 11 Truro Cathedral will mark the centenary of the end of World War One with a special ‘poppy drop’ during the Remembrance Service on Armistice Day. This echoes the ‘poppy drop’ that took place in November 2014 marking the centenary of the start of World War One.

But before that can happen thousands of paper poppies (each one remembering lives lost during the war) need to be made, so a plea is going out from Truro Cathedral to individuals and community groups to make as many poppies as they can for the drop on Remembrance Sunday.

The Dean of Truro, the Very Reverend Roger Bush, said: “Four years ago I stood in silence in a packed cathedral hearing the rustle of paper poppies fall from the central tower. It was one of the most poignant and intense experiences of my life; the symbolism of the event had everyone who attended that service in awe. This year we want as many people to help make the poppies as possible and write their messages for peace on each poppy, so that we can mark the end of this commemorative centenary in the most moving way possible.”

Information and templates are available the cathedral itself (just inside the west doors on the left) while digital versions are available to download from the ‘Get Involved’ section of the cathedral website: www.trurocathedral.org.uk. Together with the information display there is a poppy collection point for people to deposit their finished poppies, or people can send them to Truro Cathedral ‘A Message For Peace’, Old Cathedral School, Cathedral Close, Truro, TR1 2FQ by November 2.

The special Remembrance Service for Armistice Day will take place on Sunday, November 11 at the later than normal time of 10:30am. It will be a reflective service with readings, prayers, and a new anthem especially written for the occasion by Russell Pascoe with words by Dr Tony Pinchin, in which we will hear the voices of the past, recorded testimonies of those who were caught up in the horror of the conflict.

Once the poppy drop is complete, a selection of the poppies will be put on display in the cathedral and, being paper, all will be later be recycled.

For more information about how to be part of this special remembrance act by creating poppies for the drop, see the ‘Get Involved’ section of the cathedral website: www.trurocathedral.org.uk

A number of events will take place at Truro Cathedral during the Remembrance period including:

Saturday 3 November

  • 19:30 The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins will be sung by Truro Choral Society (tickets from Hall For Cornwall box office, 01872 262466)
  • 10:00- 15:00, Theology and the First World War: A day school in the Old Cathedral School discussing the impact of WW1 on English theology, with the Rev’d Professor Mark Chapman (Oxford University) see trurocathedral.org.uk for details

Sunday 4 November

  • 11:45 Dedication of the Field of Remembrance with members of Truro British Legion

Saturday 10 November

  • 19:30 Three Spires Singers perform music to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War One (tickets from Hall For Cornwall box office, 01872 262466)

Sunday 11 November

  • 10:30 Service of Remembrance
  • 15:15 Royal British Legion Service of Remembrance
  • 18:30 Requiem Mass (Duruflé) sung by Truro Cathedral Choir

Everyone is welcome to come along to the cathedral to join these special commemorative events remembering the sacrifice of so many people during the First World War.