Windsor, May 2016. An Evensong was celebrated on Monday 9 May 2016 commemorating the 630th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Windsor between England and Portugal.
The Evensong service was held at St George’s Chapel, one of the great centres of national worship and home to the Knights of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
The service which was attended by over 100 people was organised by the Chairman of the Anglo-Portuguese Society, Major Bernard Hornung, as part of the Portuguese Centenary Appeal. The Appeal celebrates the oldest unbroken alliance existing in the world today between two countries. It also marks the 100th Anniversary of Portugal’s entry to First World War.
The Evensong was concelebrated by The Right Rev David Conner KCVO, Dean of Windsor and The Rev Canon Martin Poll, Precentor and Chaplain of the College.
The Dean commenced the service by praising the historic alliance between England and Portugal and remembering those who have lost their lives:
“This year also marks the 100th Anniversary of Portugal’s entry into the First World War so we remember alongside the example of lasting concord between two nations, the sacrifice of men and women who laid down their lives in hope for a better future for those who followed them.”
Among the people who attended the service were HE Mr João de Vallera, Ambassador of Portugal to the Court of St James’s, the Rev Fr Ulick Loring, Parish Priest of the Church of St James’s Twickenham and Councillor Clare Head representing the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
During this service, a collection was received for the installation of two stained glass windows in St James’s Church, Twickenham.
One window will commemorate the Portuguese fallen of the First World War and the other will commemorate King Manuel II, who lived in exile in Twickenham from 1911 – 1943. The exiled King was a Knight of the Garter and his stall plate can be found inside St George’s Chapel.
