CAPTION: During his Remembrance Address, Bishop Mike spoke about his own family members who had served in World War One and Two
Bishop of Exeter Joins Hundreds to Commemorate Remembrance Sunday in Newton Abbot
The Bishop of Exeter commemorated Remembrance Sunday 2025 in Newton Abbot, one of Devon’s largest market towns.
The Rt. Rev’d Dr Mike Harrison joined veterans, local army and airforce cadets, civic and church representatives and children from scouting and guiding organisations to process down the town’s main shopping streets to the war memorial.
Rev’d Gareth Regan, Newton Abbot’s Royal British Legion Chaplain, then led a service of Remembrance at the memorial, with around 1000 people gathered around, including Mrs Caroline Harlow, High Sheriff of Devon.
The crowd stands in silence as the Last Post is played in Newton Abbot
Music was provided by the Devonport Royal Naval Volunteer Band and the Salvation Army Band. The Bible reading was read by Newton Abbot MP, Martin Wrigley.
Bishop Mike gave a short address in which he spoke about members of his own family, including his grandfather who fought on the Somme during WW1 and his uncle, who fought in North Africa during WW2. He also referenced two of his children, who are current members of the armed forces.
He said “We meet today to remember, which sounds straightforward, but remembering is difficult and remembering is dangerous. If we tilt too much towards the courage, the generosity of spirit, the heroic examples we stand in danger of almost making armed conflict attractive.
“On the other hand it is dangerous to tilt too much towards remembering the horror, savagery and brutishness… it neglects the largeness of heart, the solidarity in extremity, the sacrifice on behalf of others that also needs to be told. It is dangerous to get the balance wrong.
Freya from 1st Highweek Scout Group reads the poem I Will Remember by Alice Day
“And remembering is demanding – that is to say it is demanded of us, it is absolutely necessary and critical that we do remember. And in all this we remember the One who promises light in the darkness, a peace the world cannot give.”
Speaking before the service, Rev’d Regan, who is also a parish priest in Newton Abbot, said “One of the joys about having a town Remembrance event is that it is a bit less formal and everybody gets to be involved if they want to. Everyone gathers together, which I think is an important part of Remembrance Sunday.
“It’s not just about remembering the First or Second World War, it’s about the fact that we still end up in conflicts. We need to remind ourselves yearly that we should be a people of peace and that wars devastate lives. Every generation has been touched by people going off to war and coming back different and we need to remember that.”
