The coastal town of Dunbar was the setting for a special service of remembrance to mark 75 years since the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Covid19 restrictions meant attendance was limited for outdoor gatherings and worship.
Many different church traditions were reflected throughout the service. It was lead by Rev David Mumford, an FoR Trustee, retired Priest and member of St Anne’s Scottish Episcopal and Methodist Church in Dunbar. The first Bible lesson was read by the Rev. Fred Harrison from Dunbar Parish Church and the words of Pope Francis were read, calling on humanity to reject war forever and to ban nuclear weapons.
This year reflections were shaped by a special reading. The granddaughter of Rev John Dorward, a Church of Scotland missionary in Nagasaki at the time of the bombing, worships at nearby Belhaven Parish Church. She had permitted his eyewitness account of the devastation at Nagasaki to be read.
Prayers offered included thanksgiving for the recent United Nations Treaty countries outlawing nuclear weapons and that all nations would sign up to the Treaty.
Finally, the vigil ended with prayers for peace between countries.
