Celebrating The 80th Anniversary of VE Day
We hope you will join us in commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day with special celebrations and services in our churches across Cumbria.
| Place of Worship | Time | Date(s) and Additional Information |
| Ambleside | 11:00 | Thursday 8th May - St Mary's Ambleside at 11am with full involvement of Ambleside School, the local branch of the Royal British Legion and the Ambleside Oral History Group. Colonel Chris Sanderson will represent the Lord Lieutenant. |
| Ambleside | 14:30 | Friday 9th May - Community Tea Party at Ambleside Primary School. To help with catering please book your place by text or contacting Lisa on 07784780789 |
| Appleby | 18:00 | Thursday 8th May - Please join us for a short service and bellringing. |
| Carlisle Cathedral | 17:45: Choral Evensong 18:30: Ring Out In Celebration | Thursday 8th May - All Welcome - no tickets or booking required. More details below this table. |
| Carlisle City Centre | 12:00 | Thursday 8th May - Royal British Legion Service at the cenotaph in Carlisle City Centre. |
| Carlisle St James | 12:30 | Thursday 8th May - St James Parish Centre - A special communion service to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, being held in St James Parish Centre at 12.30pm on Thursday 8th May, followed by a simple lunch. |
| Cockermouth | Multiple | Thursday 8th May 18:30 - Celebration of VE Day through the ringing of the church bells. Sunday 11th May 17:00 - All Saints, Cockermouth - A Service of Thanksgiving to mark Victory in Europe Day |
| Crosthwaite, Keswick | 09:15 | Thursday 8th May - Crosthwaite church will host a special VE day service at 9.15 on 8th May. Crosthwaite school will be leading the prayers and readings on the joint themes of Peace and Perseverance. This will be followed by refreshments in the school hall. The community are invited to come and share stories with the youngsters. |
| Dalston with Cumdivock, Ivegill, Raughton Head and Wreay | - | Thursday 8th May - Celebration of VE Day through the ringing of the church bells. |
| Gilcrux | 17:00 | Sunday May 11th - 5pm at St Mary's Gilcrux. VE Day celebration will involve poetry recitals, observing 2 minutes of silence, and lighting candles in prayer for peace. |
| Hesingham, Whitehaven | - | Thursday 8th May - Celebration of VE Day through the ringing of the church bells. |
| Loweswater with Buttermere | 15:00 | 4th May - Rannerdale Knott Bluebell & VE Service |
| Maryport | 11:00 | Sunday 11th of May - The Memorial public festivity start at 11:00 am in the town, with various activities organized by the local authorities in collaboration with us. At 2:00 pm will be organized a parade in the town square. At 2:30 pm, the parade will move toward St Mary's Church. At 3:00 pm, will be held a civic service in St Mary's Church, conducted by the Team Rector and the Curate, Revd. Cornelia Noghiu. The local faith leaders and groups are invited to the service. The local authorities will be represented alongside the veterans and other uniformed groups. |
| Moresby, Whitehaven | 18:00 20:15 | Thursday 8th May - We have plans to remember it with displays in church using the 80 knitted servicemen that have been lovingly knitted as a centre piece. Many of these have been dedicated to family members who have served in the forces. Local school children have been involved in the making of displays and writing poetry and prayers. Also our own bell ringers will be joining in with the nationwide “Ring out for Peace” initiative on Thursday 8th May at 6pm and 8.15pm. |
| Scotby Church | 19:00 | Thursday 8th May - Join us for a special service commemorating 80 years since Victory in Europe Day. Refreshments served after the service. All are welcome. |
| Staveley | 14:00 | Thursday 8th May - Service at the War Memorial, followed by refreshments at Staveley CE Primary School |
| Windermere and Bowness | 13:30: War Memorial 18:30: Church Bells | Thursday 8th May 2025 13:30pm - War Memorial, Lake Road, Windermere: There will be a short service led by local clergy. (If it is wet weather, the Ladyholme centre has kindly allowed us to use their main hall) There will be an art installation at the war memorial to mark the event. It has been created by local residents and school children coordinated by the Bowness and Windermere Community Care Trust. Resident are invited to view the artwork and spend some time in quiet contemplation in the beautiful war memorial garden. 18.30pm - Church bells 'Ring out for Peace' across the town. |
Carlisle Cathedral to mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day
On Thursday 8 May, at 5.45pm, there will be a special service of Choral Evensong at Carlisle Cathedral to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Allied Victory in Europe in 1945. The service will be led by The Dean of Carlisle, The Very Revd Jonathan Brewster, with the Blessing pronounced by the Acting Bishop of Carlisle, The Rt Revd Rob Saner-Haigh. Speaking of the service, the Dean of Carlisle says:
“In the presence of HM Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria and the Mayor of Carlisle, we warmly invite you to join us for this special service of remembrance and thanksgiving.
The gathering will provide an opportunity to join with others from across our communities to give thanks to God for the courage and sacrifice of those who helped bring peace to Europe eighty years ago. As we face the renewed challenges of conflict in our world today, it will also be a time to reflect, to hope, and to commit ourselves once more to the paths of peace and justice. You are all most welcome.”
The service will conclude with the ringing of the Cathedral Bells from 6.30pm as part of the national “Ring Out In Celebration” which will mirror that moment, on 8 May 1945, when bells rang out across Britain as the nation took to the streets in celebration of Victory in Europe Day. The Cathedral service is one of a series of events in Carlisle and Cumbria to mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day including wreath laying ceremonies in the city centre and the lighting of a commemorative beacon at Carlisle Castle.
The service is free for anyone to attend and there is no need to book tickets. For more information about Carlisle Cathedral, please visit www.carlislecathedral.org.uk.
