TO COMMEMORATE the 80th anniversary of VE — Victory in Europe — Day, St Paul’s Cathedral held a special evensong on Thursday.

The service featured readings, music, and prayers, honouring those who served, fought, and died in the armed services, as well as remembering Londoners who lost their lives during the Blitz, and throughout the war.

After the service, there was a blessing of the “Lamp Light of Peace” on the west steps by the late Queen Elizabeth’s pageant master, Bruno Peek. The cathedral also joined in the national bell-ringing at 6.30 p.m. (News 28 April).

A statement from St Paul’s Cathedral said that the service recognised “the resilience and fortitude of the people of London — both in 1945 and today”.

Throughout the day on Thursday, members of the public were able to see a replica Spitfire which was located in front of the cathedral.

In a photo message posted on social media on Thursday, the St Paul’s Cathedral Instagram account announced their new exhibition, “Saving St Paul’s: The Watch and the Second World War”.

The post said: “How did St Paul’s survive the Blitz? Spoiler: it wasn’t luck alone. Meet the brave volunteers of the St Paul’s Watch — ordinary people who risked everything to save a London icon.”

The exhibition is free, and is on until October of this year.

Church Times correspondents witnessed the events of VE Day in 1945 (News 8 May), and reported: “St Paul’s held its great service of thanksgiving earlier in the day. People surged up the steps and into the nave where many stood in the alleyways because there was no room anywhere else. There were men from the British fighting Forces, American soldiers, office workers, shopkeepers and labourers, women with babies, girls with tricolour paper hats, and children with flags and rosettes.

“The Dean went at once into the pulpit, where he read thanksgivings and intercessions for those who were still fighting in the East. After the Te Deum and the blessing, the great congregation could scarcely find its way out of the cathedral for the press of another great congregation attempting to enter for the next service.”