Windrush 75 – A National Service of Thanksgiving

The Service will be held to mark the 75th anniversary of the docking of the MV Empire Windrush, into Tilbury Docks, which brought more than 500 Caribbean men and women who responded to an invitation to come to a country in recovery from the Second World War and in need of help from British subjects who were also Commonwealth citizens. As you may know, the Windrush generation played a significant role in shaping the cultural landscape of Britain. They arrived in the UK from the Caribbean between 1948 and 1971 and have since made an immeasurable contribution to our society.

The service will involve worship, music, reflections, readings, and prayers and will touch on the relevant themes namely the invitation, the recognising of struggle following the invitation, and the creative, unique, and, significant contributions made by the citizens and their descendants since then.

The purpose of this service of thanksgiving is to honour the legacy of the Windrush generation and hear how younger voices are building on the heritage. We will be celebrating their achievements, expressing our gratitude, and acknowledging the struggles that they have faced.