Conflict and Calling: St Bride’s Commemorates Journalists in War at Remembrance tide

Written by Charlotte Galea, journalist & this year’s Guild of St Bride Journalism Bursary holder

Listen to the recording of the service and view transcripts

As the Journalists’ Church, St Bride’s takes the season of Remembrance as an opportunity to remember not only the fallen soldiers and civilians of war, but those often forgotten; those who have lost their lives in the purpose of serving the public in the most dangerous of circumstances.

More so than ever the job of the journalist is at risk, not only in places where bombs can fall so easily on their reporting efforts, but in the quieter realms, too, where the truth itself is in question. However, though the role of sharing the news might be more dangerous than ever, it has also never been more important.

This years’ service took on the theme of ‘Conflict and Calling’, encouraging both the remembrance of those who have died or gone missing in the fight to share the news, but also the stirring message that they ought not to have done so in vain; that regardless of the attempts to dissuade the journalist from doing their duty, they will continue in their vocation to resist efforts that work against them and fight tirelessly to deliver the stories in dire need of being heard.

Reverend Canon Dr Alison Joyce led the service, and it featured readings from Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter for the Sun, Daily Mail columnist and royal biographer Robert Hardman. The keynote address was movingly given by James Waterhouse, Ukrainian correspondent for the BBC. The service also featured songs from the church’s renowned St Bride’s choir.