Memorial Service in Memory of the Victims of Genocide

The 6th of April 1998 brought together all well wishers of Rwanda in memory of the victims of genocide.

Both young and old joined together sharing in the activities of the day at a memorial service held at St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

Children processed with candles symbolising the thirty-six years of genocide in Rwanda in which more than a million people died.

There was an emphasis on forgiveness, reconciliation and for Rwandans to rewrite the basic social contract of a functioning society, overcome mutual suspicion and live as neighbours again.

Rwandan children learnt more about their mother country as they asked several questions and were glad they had been given a chance to participate in the service.

Kinyarwanda hymns were also sung which brought back good memories to those who have spent many years without listening or even singing in Kinyarwanda.

We were grateful for the support of the St Swithuns church choir from Yateley in Hampshire, for the Archbishop of Canterbury's Secretary on Anglican Communion Affairs Reverend Canon Andrew Deuchar who gave an address during the Service and to Reverend David Monteith from St Martin-in-the-Fields who led the service.

Among those who attended were the Ambassador and the Charge D'Affairs of Embassy of Rwanda in the United Kingdom, Ambassadors and representatives from other embassies and high commissions and many other distinguished persons.