Service of remembrance in Bishop’s Stortford and vigil in Sawbridgeworth to mark third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Ukrainian families who sought safe haven in Bishop’s Stortford and the surrounding area will join events to mark the third anniversary of the invasion of their country by Russian forces on February 24, 2022.

As world leaders meet to try to bring an end to the conflict, residents in Stortford and Sawbridgeworth will be offering a show of support for the refugees – and for the country from which they fled.

A service of remembrance, organised by Bishop’s Stortford Ukrainian Guests Support Group, will take place at the Methodist Church in South Street on Saturday (Feb 22) at 10.30am.

Group co-ordinator Mione Goldspink told the Indie she will open the service with words of welcome and then “an expression of deepest sadness about the continuation of the war, and expression of admiration for all the brave soldiers and all the people of Ukraine”.

This will be followed by a welcome from a Ukrainian guest before people are invited to light a candle. Children will then process with their candles, followed by the adults.

“We will all stand for one minute’s silence to remember all those who have died or who have suffered in any way,” said Mione.

A passage from the Bible will be read in English by town mayor Cllr Richard Townsend and in Ukrainian by one of the refugees, and then there will be prayers for peace in both languages.

Children will read Ukrainian poems, before the country’s national anthem will be sung.

Sawbridgeworth Town Council will host a Stand With Ukraine vigil at Sayesbury Manor, off Bell Street, at 5pm on Monday (Feb 24) in conjunction with the Homes For Ukraine – Sawbridgeworth – Support Group.

The town’s beacon will be lit, the country’s national anthem sung, along with the patriotic song Chervona Kolina, and those present will be invited to place tea lights around the beacon.