Bishop of Exeter joins hundreds in Newton Abbot for Remembrance Sunday

The Bishop of Exeter, the Rt. Rev’d Dr Mike Harrison, joined hundreds of people in Newton Abbot on Sunday to commemorate Remembrance Sunday 2025 in one of Devon’s largest and oldest market towns.

Veterans, army and air force cadets, civic leaders, church representatives, and children from local scouting and guiding groups processed with the bishop through the town’s main shopping streets to the war memorial, where around 1,000 people gathered to pay their respects. Among them was the High Sheriff of Devon, Mrs Caroline Harlow.

The service of Remembrance was led by Rev’d Gareth Regan, Newton Abbot’s Royal British Legion chaplain. Music was provided by the Devonport Royal Naval Volunteer Band and the Salvation Army Band, while the Bible reading was delivered by the town’s MP, Martin Wrigley.

In his address, Bishop Mike spoke movingly about members of his own family who served in both world wars - his grandfather, who fought on the Somme during the First World War, and his uncle, who served in North Africa during the Second World War. He also referred to two of his children who are currently serving in the armed forces.

He said: “We meet today to remember, which sounds straightforward, but remembering is difficult and remembering is dangerous. If we tilt too much towards the courage, the generosity of spirit, the heroic examples we stand in danger of almost making armed conflict attractive.

“On the other hand it is dangerous to tilt too much towards remembering the horror, savagery and brutishness… it neglects the largeness of heart, the solidarity in extremity, the sacrifice on behalf of others that also needs to be told. It is dangerous to get the balance wrong.

“And remembering is demanding – that is to say it is demanded of us, it is absolutely necessary and critical that we do remember. And in all this we remember the One who promises light in the darkness, a peace the world cannot give.”

Speaking before the service, Rev’d Regan, who also serves as a parish priest in Newton Abbot, highlighted the importance of the town coming together for the annual event.

“One of the joys about having a town Remembrance event is that it is a bit less formal and everybody gets to be involved if they want to. Everyone gathers together, which I think is an important part of Remembrance Sunday.

“It’s not just about remembering the First or Second World War, it’s about the fact that we still end up in conflicts. We need to remind ourselves yearly that we should be a people of peace and that wars devastate lives. Every generation has been touched by people going off to war and coming back different and we need to remember that.”

Newton Abbot has a long tradition of marking Remembrance Sunday, with the town’s ceremonies drawing large crowds each year to honour those who served and died in conflicts past and present.