Cross Examine
Padre Richard Smith on the humble war
relic linked with Imjin
Gloucester Cathedral holds many
precious artefacts, but the item which
speaks most to me is one of the
smallest in its extensive collection.
The Carne Cross was carved by
Lieutenant Colonel James Carne,
the Commander of 1st Battalion, The
Gloucester Regiment while he was a
prisoner of war in Korea. ‘The Glosters’
(as his unit was known) had fought
at the now famous battle of the Imjin
River in late April 1951, but after being
overwhelmed by the enemy, those
remaining were taken into captivity for
two and half years.
The Glosters’ chaplain was Padre
Sam Davies; as the battle raged he
had been moving between positions,
ministering to the wounded and
carrying vital medical supplies. When
the battle was lost, and the order
came to retreat, the padre stayed with
the wounded to continue his ministry,
knowing that he would be captured.
In captivity he shared the hardships
of his men and ministered to them as
allowed. On Christmas Day 1951 within
Camp No 2 on the Yalu river, Padre
Sam was permitted to lead a small
Holy Communion service for
his men, Colonel Carne
then produced a small
cross which had been
carving by hand for
recent months ‘using two
large nails and a primitive
hammer’. It stood as a
centrepiece of their worship
and a recognition of their
hope and defiance.
The Carne Cross and a
Book of Remembrance for
all those who died at Imjin
can be seen within the
Cathedral, the staff will
be happy to show you
where it can be found.
Padre Richard
Places of Worship around Gloucester
CHRISTIANITY
Church of England
St Johns
(Reverend Jacqui Hyde) Sunday
10am Traditional style, with
children’s work alongside
St Johns Avenue, Churchdown
(at crossroads with Hare and Hounds)
www.stjohnschurchdown.co.uk
St Andrews
(Reverend Jonathan
Perkin) Sunday 10.30am Modern style, with children’s
work alongside
Station Road, Churchdown
new.standrewschurchdown.org.uk
Sunday 10.30am Mass, with children’s work
alongside
66 Cheltenham Road East, Churchdown
www.ourladyschurchdown.org.uk
Sunday 10.30am Rotation of Holy Communion,
Chapel Hay Lane, Churchdown, GL3 2ET
All age worship, and normal
www.churchdownmethodistchurch.org.uk
Sunday Worship
Sunday 10.30am All age service, with
children’s work alongside
Roman Catholic
Our Ladys
(Father Paul Brandon)
Methodist
Churchdown
Methodist
(Reverend Graham Miles)
Baptist
Kendal Road Baptist
(Pastor – Steve Ayers)
Kendal Road, Longlevens, GL2 0NB
krbc.org.uk
JEWISH
Gloucester Liberal
Jewish Community
(Rabbi Anna Gerrard)
www.gljc.org.uk
MUSLIM
Masjid e Noor 44-46 Ryecroft Street, Gloucester, GL1 4LY
www.majidenoor.org.uk
Khoja Shi’s Muslim
Community Wainsbridge, 69 Bristol Road, Quedgely, GL2
4NE
HINDUISM
Gloucester Pillaiyar
Temple
7 days a week
9am - midday, 6 - 9 pm Babminton Road, Matson, GL4 6AY
www.gloucesterpillaiyartemple.org
As required Imjin Barracks
GURKHA
Temple
ARRC Padre
the imjin AUTUMN 2019
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