At 11am on November 11th, 1918, an armistice (peace agreement) was signed that brought to an end the war between Britain and her allies and Germany. November 11th is called Armistice Day in Britain, and there is a two-minute silence at 11 o'clock.

On either the Sunday before or the Sunday after Armistice Day (on a day known as Remembrance Sunday) there is a ceremony in London at which people remember those who have died or been injured in wars. The ceremony was first held in 1921. Special services are held every year at war memorials and churches all over Britain. Over 1.75 million soldiers and sailors from Britain and the Commonwealth lost their lives in the two World Wars, and many more have died in more recent conflicts.

It is traditional to wear an artificial poppy on Remembrance Sunday. They are sold by the Royal British Legion, a charity dedicated to helping war veterans.

At St. James's there is a special service each Remembrance Sunday and after the service we all gather round the War Memorial in the churchyard. At 11 o'clock the Last Post is played, the two minutes silence is observed and special prayers are said.

More information about Remembrance Sunday can be found in the websites shown below.