What is now the RAF Chapel was the original burial site of Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell in 1658. Cromwell was disinterred in 1661, after the Stuart Restoration, when his corpse was ritually hung from the gallows at Tyburn, where it was finally buried.[1]
The chapel received extensive bomb damage during the Battle of Britain in 1940 and its Tudor glass windows were blown out at the same time. A hole made in the stonework has been preserved and covered with glass. The Dean of Westminster was approached early in 1943 by Mr. N. Viner-Brady who suggested the idea of a memorial to The Few and Dean Labilliere chose a small chapel as suitable for the purpose. Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Trenchard and Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding headed a committee to raise funds for the furnishing of this chapel and for a stained glass window, the Battle of Britain memorial window, which was unveiled by King George VI on 10 July 1947.
Subsequently, the Battle of Britain Roll of Honour was placed in the chapel. It contains the names of the 1,497 pilots and aircrew killed or mortally wounded during the Battle of Britain. Illuminated by calligrapher Daisy Alcock, the original work was paid for by Captain Bruce Ingram. It is paraded annually during the Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication on Battle of Britain Sunday.
The ashes of Trenchard (1956) and Dowding (1970) were interred in the chapel. Notable RAF officers buried elsewhere are commemorated by memorials, e.g. "Bomber" Harris,[2] the man who led RAF Bomber Command during much of the Second World War.
A tradition has grown that the remaining Battle of Britain veterans and their families hold their own, private service in the chapel prior to the Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication on Battle of Britain Sunday.
Service of Thanksgiving and Rededicationedit
The annual service on Battle of Britain Sunday is held in Westminster Abbey on the Sunday on or following Battle of Britain Day (15 September), and has taken place annually since 1943; the first service took place in St Paul's Cathedral and since has taken place in the Abbey.[3]
The format of the service has not changed since 1943. The Battle of Britain Roll of Honour is paraded through the abbey. Originally, it was escorted by 12 Battle of Britain veterans; today, the escort is made up of six veterans and six serving Junior Officers in the RAF. The RAF Fighter Command Silk Ensign is also carried through the abbey, borne and escorted by serving Junior RAF Officers from an extant Battle of Britain squadron that is currently operational. The Ensign Bearer always wears the Monypenny Sword, a gift of the widow of Squadron Leader John Blackwell Sinclair Monypenny, who was killed in action in 1940.[4]
The service is a ticket-only event, arranged by the Royal Air Force Ceremonial Office. Notices are placed in The Times and The Daily Telegraph newspapers in June. Applications can be made in writing to SO3 RAF Ceremonial Events at RAF Northolt by former Battle of Britain aircrew, relatives of Battle of Britain aircrew now deceased (either during the war or since), past or present members of the RAF or its reserve forces and members of the public.[citation needed]
^"The Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication on Battle of Britain Sunday". 20 September 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
^"THEY WILL REMEMBER THE FEW". Middlesex County Times. 10 September 1960. Retrieved 19 September 2021. The Fighter Command ensign is to be carried by Wing Commander R. F. T. Doe, D.S.O., D.F.C.. a Battle of Britain pilot, who will wear the Moneypenny Sword, presented by the widow of Squadron Leader J. B. S. Moneypenny, who was killed in action in 1940. NOTE: Here is the article - unfortunately the reporter spells Squadron Leader Monypenny's last name incorrectly - the article, along with many references on the internet, spell his last name as 'Moneypenny' when, in fact, there is no 'e'.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal Air Force chapel, Westminster Abbey.
The Royal Air Force Chapel - Westminster Abbey
April 11, 2024
chapel, confused, with, clement, danes, central, church, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newsp. Not to be confused with St Clement Danes the central church of the RAF This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources RAF Chapel news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message At the eastern end of Westminster Abbey in the Lady Chapel built by King Henry VII is the RAF Chapel dedicated to the men of the Royal Air Force who died in the Battle of Britain between July and October 1940 Contents 1 History 2 Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp Detail of Battle of Britain memorial windowWhat is now the RAF Chapel was the original burial site of Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell in 1658 Cromwell was disinterred in 1661 after the Stuart Restoration when his corpse was ritually hung from the gallows at Tyburn where it was finally buried 1 The chapel received extensive bomb damage during the Battle of Britain in 1940 and its Tudor glass windows were blown out at the same time A hole made in the stonework has been preserved and covered with glass The Dean of Westminster was approached early in 1943 by Mr N Viner Brady who suggested the idea of a memorial to The Few and Dean Labilliere chose a small chapel as suitable for the purpose Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Trenchard and Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding headed a committee to raise funds for the furnishing of this chapel and for a stained glass window the Battle of Britain memorial window which was unveiled by King George VI on 10 July 1947 Subsequently the Battle of Britain Roll of Honour was placed in the chapel It contains the names of the 1 497 pilots and aircrew killed or mortally wounded during the Battle of Britain Illuminated by calligrapher Daisy Alcock the original work was paid for by Captain Bruce Ingram It is paraded annually during the Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication on Battle of Britain Sunday The ashes of Trenchard 1956 and Dowding 1970 were interred in the chapel Notable RAF officers buried elsewhere are commemorated by memorials e g Bomber Harris 2 the man who led RAF Bomber Command during much of the Second World War A tradition has grown that the remaining Battle of Britain veterans and their families hold their own private service in the chapel prior to the Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication on Battle of Britain Sunday Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication editThe annual service on Battle of Britain Sunday is held in Westminster Abbey on the Sunday on or following Battle of Britain Day 15 September and has taken place annually since 1943 the first service took place in St Paul s Cathedral and since has taken place in the Abbey 3 The format of the service has not changed since 1943 The Battle of Britain Roll of Honour is paraded through the abbey Originally it was escorted by 12 Battle of Britain veterans today the escort is made up of six veterans and six serving Junior Officers in the RAF The RAF Fighter Command Silk Ensign is also carried through the abbey borne and escorted by serving Junior RAF Officers from an extant Battle of Britain squadron that is currently operational The Ensign Bearer always wears the Monypenny Sword a gift of the widow of Squadron Leader John Blackwell Sinclair Monypenny who was killed in action in 1940 4 The service is a ticket only event arranged by the Royal Air Force Ceremonial Office Notices are placed in The Times and The Daily Telegraph newspapers in June Applications can be made in writing to SO3 RAF Ceremonial Events at RAF Northolt by former Battle of Britain aircrew relatives of Battle of Britain aircrew now deceased either during the war or since past or present members of the RAF or its reserve forces and members of the public citation needed See also editRoyal Air Force Chaplains BranchReferences edit Westminster Abbey Burials Famous People Buried Among Kings At Westminster Abbey Sir Arthur Harris Westminster Abbey The Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication on Battle of Britain Sunday 20 September 2009 Retrieved 12 April 2010 THEY WILL REMEMBER THE FEW Middlesex County Times 10 September 1960 Retrieved 19 September 2021 The Fighter Command ensign is to be carried by Wing Commander R F T Doe D S O D F C a Battle of Britain pilot who will wear the Moneypenny Sword presented by the widow of Squadron Leader J B S Moneypenny who was killed in action in 1940 NOTE Here is the article unfortunately the reporter spells Squadron Leader Monypenny s last name incorrectly the article along with many references on the internet spell his last name as Moneypenny when in fact there is no e External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal Air Force chapel Westminster Abbey The Royal Air Force Chapel Westminster Abbey Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title RAF Chapel amp oldid 1206313804, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
