FLEET AIR ARM MEMORIAL CHURCH
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Christmas Eve Services

30/11/2023

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Church Services for Christmas Eve 2023 are as follows:
Eucharist Service at 10:30 am
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​(Usual Sunday traditional communion service with hymns.)
Crib Service at 4:00 pm
(An informal service for all ages, but especially designed for children, with Christmas carols and storytelling.)
Moonlight Mass at 8:00 pm
(A more informal communion service accompanied by Christmas carol favourites.)
Midnight Mass at 11:00 pm
(A traditional communion service accompanied by Christmas carols.)
Everyone is welcome. 
Please note that the church lane is very dark with no street lighting. If are intending to come to the afternoon or evening services, please bring a torch with you to illuminate the surrounding pathways. 
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Tragedy Remembered 75 Years On

17/10/2023

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Reverend Doctor Steve Cosslett Royal Navy and the Fleet Air Arm Roll of Honour
On Sunday 17 October 1948, a 36ft open motor launch (referred to as a pinnace) from the aircraft carrier HMS ILLUSTRIOUS sunk in Portland Harbour with the loss of 29 souls.
The ill-fated pinnace left Weymouth Pier to head across the bay shortly after 10.00pm with a crew of five and 45 liberty men who were returning from a day’s shore leave. Conditions were poor with a south westerly gale blowing and blinding rain squalls.
The weather worsened as the pinnace passed through the northern entrance of Portland Harbour breakwater, to head towards the aircraft carrier at anchor. Those on board the pinnace began to bail out the sea water with their caps, buckets and anything which came to hand; others attempted to keep the sea out by forming a barrier with their bodies. Regrettably, all their efforts were in vain as the pinnace foundered and sank some 50 metres astern of HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.
Rescue boats were immediately launched and there were stories of incredible bravery as shipmates plunged into the foaming sea from the carrier to help. There were 11 young naval airman who died that night. 

HMS ILLUSTRIOUS FAA Roll of Honour for 17 October 1948
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Church Closure

15/8/2023

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The church will not be open to visitors for the following two weeks due to staff summer holidays.
The next Eucharist service will be at 10:30 am on Sunday 3 September 2023.
Access to the Churchyard and Royal Naval Cemetery are unaffected.
Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
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War Grave Week 2023

17/5/2023

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​War Graves Week 2023 will run from Saturday 20 May to Monday 28 May. It celebrates the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in the UK and around the world. Throughout this period the Commonwealth War Graves Commission invites you to discover, learn and remember about the lives of the 1.7million men and women of the Commonwealth they commemorate. 
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At Yeovilton we care for over 100 Armed Forces personnel who have lost their lives while serving, of which 38 are WWII fatalities - 16 in the old churchyard and the remainder in the Royal Naval Cemetery to the rear of the church. There is unlimited access to all of the graves, but the church will be manned every weekday afternoon during War Graves Week if you want to find out more about the men and women commemorated with us. 
CWGC War Graves Week Information
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HMS DASHER Remembered

2/4/2023

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Prayers were said in church this morning to remember the men who perished when the Escort Carrier HMS DASHER exploded and sank in the Firth of Clyde between Arran and Ardrossan.
Monday 27 March 2023 marked the 80th anniversary of the ship’s loss. From HMS DASHER’s compliment of 528, tragically 379 men died - many from hypothermia and burning fuel on the surface of the sea. Among the dead were 95 Fleet Air Arm men and one RAF Sergeant, the majority of whom were not recovered and are commemorated on the Lee-on-Solent Memorial in Hampshire.
The wreck of the ship, which lies at a depth of 140 metres and went down within eight minutes, is designated as an official war grave. News of the ship’s loss was suppressed until 1945 and no official explanation has ever been given as to what caused the initial blast.
Click on the button to view the names of Fleet Air Arm men who lost their lives. 
HMS DASHER FAA Roll of Honour
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The late Rear Admiral A R Rawbone CB AFC

23/3/2023

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The funeral of the late Rear Admiral Ray Rawbone CB AFC will take place in the church on Tuesday 28 March 2023 at 2pm.
Attendance is strictly by invitation only. Booking can be arranged via Ray’s daughter who can be contacted via email at lizchilds6@gmail.com
The service will be live streamed and can be viewed on Zoom (Enter 2803 if password requested). 
Watch the service here
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Ash Wednesday Service 2023

13/2/2023

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There will be a service at the church on Wednesday 22 February 2023, Ash Wednesday, at 10:00 am to signify the start of Lent.
The service will include Holy Communion with the imposition of ashes.

Everyone is welcome. 

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New Year's Day Service 2023

27/12/2022

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The next service at the church will take place on Sunday 1 January 2023 at 10:00 am.

This will be a short said Eucharist only so that members of congregation can attend the Lyme Lunge - an annual fancy dress swim in aid of charities at Sandy Beach, Lyme Regis, Dorset. Good luck Cate!

More details can be found by clicking the button below.
More
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Christmas Services

6/12/2022

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Christmas services will take place at the church as follows:
Crib Service - 4:00pm Saturday 24 December 2022
Midnight Mass - 11:00pm Saturday 24 December 2022

Everyone is welcome.
Please note that there will be no service on Christmas Day.
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HMS AVENGER Remembered

17/11/2022

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A service was held on Tuesday 15 November 2022 to mark the sinking of HMS AVENGER during WWII 80 years ago to the day. The Escort Carrier was torpedoed west of Gibraltar with a huge loss of life; of the 526 officers and men on board, only 12 survived. Among those who perished were 127 Fleet Air Arm men.
A copy of the Order of Service, containing the Avenger Roll of Honour, can be found at this OneDrive link:
Download Order of Service
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Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church
Pyle Lane, Yeovilton, Somerset, BA22 8EX

T: 01935 841471
E: 
fleetairarmmc@gmail.com

Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church Trust is a Registered charity number: 1001908
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