Before the service, the Central Band of the Royal Air Force plays

Flourish for Wind Band, Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)

Bomber, Robert Wigley (b 1961)

Irish Tune from County Derry, Percy Grainger (1882–1961)

Fantasia on the 'Dargason' from Second Suite for Military Band Op 28, Gustav Holst (1874–1934)

Afterlife, Rosanno Galante (b 1967)

Spitfire Prelude, William Walton (1902–83)

Order of Service

The choir and clergy, together with the representative of His Majesty The King, move to places in Quire and the Sacrarium

All sing

arranged by Gordon Jacob (1895–1984)

All remain standing for the Bidding

We meet in this Abbey church, a house of memory, to celebrate the dedication and daring of members of the Royal Air Force and allied air forces during the Battle of Britain. Their sure courage halted the advance of a terrible tyranny. They held fast in days of greatest danger. For their resilience and their skill, we give thanks; for their pain and loss, we grieve. Once again, we commit ourselves to the duty of an honest remembrance.

Calling to mind those days, and those individuals, we remember too all who have served, and still serve, in the Royal Air Force. We pray God's blessing upon them and pray for their safety. Remembering conflict past and present in which they have served, we come before God penitent that we are so often divided and so easily tempted into violence. Now, we renew our commitment to seek out, together, the ways of peace and reconciliation and continue to pray for all those who currently live with conflict and danger.

As we remember before God all those who serve in the Royal Air Force and those who work alongside them, we look for the coming of a kingdom ruled in righteousness and loving justice, praying as Jesus taught us:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

All remain standing. The Standard of No 54 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is borne through the church, presented, and laid upon the High Altar. The band plays

Fanfare to the Royal Air Force Roy, Edward Davies (1920–95)

Fanfare on the Royal Air Force Call, Rudolph O'Donnell (1885–1961)

Let us pray.

Almighty God, who makest the clouds thy chariots and walkest upon the wings of the storm, look in mercy, we beseech thee, upon the Royal Air Force. Make them a tower of strength to our King and country. Help them to do their duty with prudence and with fearlessness, confident that in life or in death the eternal God is our refuge and strength. Grant this for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

All sing the Hymn

All sit for the first Reading, Exodus 13: 3–10

Moses said to the people, 'Remember this day on which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, because the Lord brought you out from there by strength of hand; no leavened bread shall be eaten. Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out. When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this observance in this month. For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a festival to the Lord. Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen in your possession, and no leaven shall be seen among you in all your territory. You shall tell your child on that day, "It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt." It shall serve for you as a sign on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead, so that the teaching of the Lord may be on your lips; for with a strong hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt. You shall keep this ordinance at its proper time from year to year.'

Thanks be to God.

The choir sings Psalm 46

God is our hope and strength : a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved : and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea.
Though the waters thereof rage and swell : and though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same.
The rivers of the flood thereof shall make glad the city of God : the holy place of the tabernacle of the most Highest.
God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed : God shall help her, and that right early.
The heathen make much ado, and the kingdoms are moved : but God hath shewed his voice, and the earth shall melt away.
The Lord of hosts is with us : the God of Jacob is our refuge.
O come hither, and behold the works of the Lord : what destruction he hath brought upon the earth.
He maketh wars to cease in all the world : he breaketh the bow, and knappeth the spear in sunder, and burneth the chariots in the fire.
Be still then, and know that I am God : I will be exalted among the heathen, and I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us : the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Chant: after Martin Luther (1483–1546)

All remain seated for the second Reading, 1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

Thanks be to God.

All stand for the Act of Remembrance. The Battle of Britain Roll of Honour is borne from the Grave of the Unknown Warrior to the Sacrarium. The band plays

Almighty God, into thy hands we commend the souls of those who laid down their lives for the cause of freedom; praying that thou wouldst grant them the joys of thy eternal kingdom, and, to all who mourn them, fortitude of spirit and constant faith in the power of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

All sing the Hymn

All sit for the Address

The choir sings the Anthem

Te Deum in C, Benjamin Britten (1913–76)

Let us pray.

All kneel or remain seated for the Prayers

Let us give thanks to God for his many gifts; for our creation, for our redemption through our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, and for every opportunity to serve him in serving the needs of our brothers and sisters.

Let us give thanks to God for the freedoms we enjoy; for the courage and inspiration of those who served during the Battle of Britain; for members of the Royal Air Force, the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, and especially those whose lives were lost in the cause of liberty.

Let us give thanks to God for the service rendered by the Royal Air Force, the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Civil Service and Industry Partners, in peacetime and in conflict; for those who fly, and those who support them as mechanics, ground crew, operators, engineers, logisticians, and in cyberspace; for peace preserved, and for peril averted.

Let us pray for all who suffer exploitation or oppression. For all who live amidst warfare, unrest, or the threat of violence. Let us pray for the leaders of the nations and for all who influence opinion, that they may be inspired to act with wisdom, discernment, and integrity.

Let us pray for all who bear the scars of war in body, mind, or spirit; for veterans and all who assist them, especially the Royal Air Force Association, the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, the Royal Air Force Widows' Association, the War Widows' Association of Great Britain, and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund; that all who have made sacrifices in the cause of peace may know peace in their own lives.

Let us pray for all who serve today in the Royal Air Force and in all the Forces of the Crown; particularly those serving in the Middle East, the Gulf, the South Atlantic, Eastern Europe, and other operational theatres. We remember especially those whose duty places them in danger and pray that they may be granted spiritual fortitude, with physical and moral courage.

O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom: Defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in thy defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

All stand to sing the Hymn

All remain standing for the Act of Rededication

Let us rededicate ourselves to building a world in which there is justice and peace for all, and where each may live with full human dignity.

Lord God our Father, we pledge ourselves to serve you and all people in the cause of justice and peace, and for the relief of want and suffering. Guide us by your Spirit; give us wisdom, courage, vision, and hope; and keep us faithful to our calling now and always, for the honour of your holy name. Amen.

The Blessing

God grant to the living grace; to the departed rest; to the Church, The King, the Commonwealth, and all people, peace and concord; and to us sinners life everlasting; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

All remain standing for the Call of the Royal Air Force, the Last Post, and Reveille

The Standard of No 54 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is returned to the Standard Party as the band plays

Fanfare for the Ensign of the Royal Air Force, Barrie Hingley

The Royal Air Force March Past, Henry Walford Davies (1869–1941) and George Dyson (1883–1964)

The choir and clergy, together with the representative of His Majesty The King, move from Quire and the Sacrarium to the west end of the church

Music after the service

Toccata Marziale, Ralph Vaughan Williams

Fighter Command March, Kenneth Alwyn (1925–2020)

The bells of the Abbey are rung

Hymns covered by Christian Copyright Licensing (International) Ltd are reproduced under CCL no 1040271