During our morning service on 4th May, we commemorated the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day with a reflection from our church magazine, written just days later by the magazine editor. It conveys the mixed emotions felt by many at this time:
“Most of us probably find it a little difficult to realise that the day of victory in Europe has come and gone. It was the day for which we had so earnestly prayed, the day when the evil forces which had for so long menaced the rights of liberties of mankind would be thrown back and beaten into the dust. But the struggle had been long and we had become inured to the restraints, and even to the dangers, which it had imposed upon us. Then, for weeks we have known that it was only a question of time before the final capitulation of the German armed forces would come. Relaxation of black-out and of other restrictions showed that the end was not far off. Then, at the very last, the confusion which occurred over the official announcement of the unconditional surrender of the enemy made the occasion – so memorable in the history of humanity – something of an anti-climax.
But the outburst of joy and thankfulness was immediate and spontaneous when, on the evening of 7th May, the news of the surrender became generally known. In accordance with the announcement about Services made in last month’s Magazine, quite a number of our people assembled in the Church at 10am to give thanks to God. Another congregation gathered in the evening at 5pm, two hours after the official announcement by the Prime Minister. Then on the Sunday following we had the largest congregations we have seen in Crown Court Church for many a long day. The area of the Church was filled some time before the Morning Service began, and it was necessary to re-open the gallery for the accommodation of many more who came later. The items of praise included the 24th Psalm to St. George’s, Edinburgh, and the 124th Psalm to its own well-known tune, and rarely, if ever, have we heard congregational singing rise to such a height of emotional expression and fervour. Rev. Robert Watt, C.F. just home from Germany and the battle-front, took part in the Service, and the Lessons were read by Lt. P. J. Moffett, who was at home on short leave.
It was a day of joy and gladness that few of us are ever likely to forget, even although it was somewhat subdued in tone by the knowledge that the last battle against the aggressors is not yet won, nor the full tale of suffering and sacrifice yet made up. But the profound sense of relief, of the mighty deliverance God had wrought for us and for mankind from the threat of the foulest tyranny which has ever been known, gave a solemnity and sincerity to our worship which has left an indelible impression on all our minds.”