On 15 August, we will mark the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day), paying tribute to those involved in the end of the Second World War.
On this page
Worship and prayer resources from the Church of England
The Church of England has created worship materials and prayer resources for VJ Day which can be found here.
How your chuch can take part
There are a variety of ways your church and worshipping community can join in Victory over Japan Day commemorations if you would like to do so:
Hold a special service to commemorate the day. Download an outline service for the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.
Light a candle online to remember loved ones who fought in the war.
On AChurchNearYou.com, there is the option to add an ‘80th Anniversary of VJ Day’ tag to any services and events you may be holding on your church or benefice sites.
A national two-minute silence will be also be held at 12 noon on Friday August 15. You can find out more about this in an announcement from the Government.
Bellringing
As part of the nationwide remembrance, bellringers are encouraged to ring at their local tower, beginning at 6:30pm, to honour those who served and sacrificed in the Far East. This symbolic act of bell ringing echoes the celebrations that swept the nation 80 years ago and offers a moment of reflection and gratitude for peace restored. Find out more here.
Resources from the Government
The VE and VJ Day 80 Government Toolkit contains branding resources including logos and will grow to incorporate bunting templates, activity sheets and more. It is open to any organisation or individual to use in conjunction with activities or events relating to commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Resources to help with event planning
Ecclesiastical Insurance have a range of resources and guidance notes to support parishes with the planning of commemoration events.
Commenorating VJ Day at Chelmsford Cathedral
Chelmsford Cathedral will be holding a service on the 14th August to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day. Details of the service will be added to this page in due course.
Share your photos with us
We would love to see photos of churches' events and services. Please share them with us by tagging @chelmsdio on social media. You can also upload your photos to the ‘Life across our Diocese’ section of our website or email them directly to us on communicationsdept@chelmsfordanglican.org.