“The Great War changed the course of human history and a century later the world is still living with the consequences of its aftermath. The Somme, as a particularly poignant part of that conflict, changed the lives of countless thousands and indelibly shaped whole communities in Ulster and throughout the island of Ireland. It was a time of terrible carnage and incredible heroism, Dr. Sellar said.
The Centenary Service was attended by HRH The Prince of Wales and other members of the Royal Family, political and civic representatives from Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and France, along with members of the Somme Association.
During the service Dr. Sellar led those attending in The Lord’s Prayer. Archbishop Richard Clarke, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, Archbishop Eamon Martin, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, Rev. Bill Mullally, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rev. Justin Welby, also take part.
“For us today, 100 years on, it is difficult to imagine, or even contemplate, the shear scale of the loss of life and the impact that it had then. My grandfather lost two of his brothers on the battlefield, while a third, who survived, received the Military Medal for his bravery,” Dr. Sellar said.
“For many families, like my own, the events of 1916 are still personal. It is however an enormous privilege and honour to represent the Presbyterian Church in Ireland at such an historic occasion, as we pause and remember those who died and reflect on their loss.
“I am also reminded of our own fractured society and troubled world we live in and the vital importance of critical reflection and inclusive remembering. I am also very conscious of the necessity to always search for true reconciliation and for the creative reimagining of a civil society humbly modeled on Christ Jesus for the common good,” he said.
The Battle, which took place between 1st July and 18th November 1916 would prove to be the largest battle of the First World War to take place on the Western Front and prove to be one of the bloodiest battles ever fought, with more than one million men killed or injured.
By the close of the first day the 36th (Ulster) Division had experienced over 5,000 casualties, more than 2,000 of whom had been killed. All those who died, including the names of 75 per cent of the Division’s fatalities who have no known graves are recorded on the Ulster Memorial Tower.
Today’s events are part of national commemorations in France, Britain and Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland will also be officially represented at a number of commemorative events in Belfast and Dublin.
Former moderator, Very Rev. Dr. Ian McNie, represented the Church at a special commemorative event at Belfast City Hall, today where he will take part in a wreath-laying ceremony.
He also attended ‘Faith during the War’ at Parliament Buildings, an event to mark the role of the churches during the First World War, where he also laid a wreath. He will also attend Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Somme Centenary Festival of Remembrance this evening.
This Sunday Dr. McNie will attend the Northern Ireland Somme Centenary Service at St. Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast.
Former Moderator, Very Rev. Dr. Michael Barry will represent the Presbyterian Church in Ireland at the Republic of Ireland’s main state event to commemorate the Centenary of the Battle. The ceremony will take place in conjunction with the Royal British Legion on Saturday, 9th July at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens, Islandbridge, Dublin. President Michael D. Higgins will acknowledge the sacrifice of those men from across Ireland who died at the Somme with the laying of a wreath.