A SINGLE church bell tolling out across the community will mark the start of the centenary of the beginning of the Battle of the Somme as St Gregory’s church in Bedale joins other churches across the diocese in the special memorial.
The Somme was one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War with 58,000 killed and injured on the first day.
The Dales and West Yorkshire Diocese is marking the centenary with the tolling of the bells at Ripon, Wakefield and Bradford cathedrals along with scores of town and village churches at 7.30am on the morning of July 1.
Rector of Bedale Rev Ian Robinson said: “Here in Bedale we have close associations with Royal British Legion and the military establishments at RAF Leeming and Catterick Garrison. With the high loss of life from the town during WW1 we want to continue to show our respect to those who died and mark this anniversary to give thanks to God for the years of freedom and peace which they gave their lives for.”
The tolling of the bell will be followed by silence for ten minutes and then a further ten minutes of prayer.
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