'the imjin' magazine Summer 2020

Buried feelings Padre Richard Smith on the secrets that often lie beneath the surface One of my most poignant duties in recent months was reburying a fallen soldier from the First World War during a ceremony in northern France. followed his situation deteriorated and sadly, without warning, he took his own life. So frustrating not to have known that he needed help. These events are organised by the ‘MOD War Detectives’ from the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) based at Imjin Barracks. Here in Gloucester maybe we can encourage those who are struggling with mental health issues to seek help? On the headstone were the words: ‘Soldier of the Great War, Known unto God.’ It struck me, in the perfectly maintained war cemetery, that so much is only ‘Known unto God’. In our human capacity, there is more that we do not know than we know, yet with God (if you believe in such things) knowledge is unlimited. What none of us knew on the day of the burial was that one of the bearer party soldiers was in a very dark mental state. So, while the events in France are now tinged with additional sadness, the work that JCCC is remarkable. As they care for those who died long ago, they honour their sacrifice and remember their service. I pray we may do the same. Why he volunteered to take part is a mystery. But in the weeks that Padre Richard © CWGC Places of Worship around Gloucester CHRISTIANITY Church of England St John’s (Reverend Jacqui Hyde) Sunday 10am Traditional style, with children’s work alongside St Johns Avenue, Churchdown, GL3 2DB (at crossroads with Hare and Hounds) www.stjohnschurchdown.co.uk St Andrew’s (Reverend Jonathan Perkin) Sunday 10.30am Modern style, with children’s work alongside Station Road, Churchdown, GL3 2JT new.standrewschurchdown.org.uk Sunday 10.30am Mass, with children’s work alongside 66 Cheltenham Road East, Churchdown, GL3 1HU 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 Lady’s (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 Gloucestershire 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, Quedgley, 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 SUMMER 2020 25

'the imjin' magazine Summer 2020 | Page 25