Westminster Abbey hosted a service of thanksgiving and rededication on Sunday to mark the 84th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, one of the most decisive moments in World War II.

The battle, which lasted more than three months and was the first major military campaign fought entirely by air forces, concluded on 31 October 1940.

Since 1943, Battle of Britain Day has been commemorated on 15th September, the date King George VI selected to mark the crucial moment when the Royal Air Force successfully repelled the Luftwaffe’s heaviest attacks on London.

This year’s service, attended by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Marshal of the Royal Air Force The Lord Stirrup, who represented His Majesty The King, took place at Westminster Abbey, a venue traditionally associated with the commemoration since 1944.

The event honoured the bravery and sacrifice of RAF pilots and their allies, as well as the determination of those who supported them on the ground.

The service opened with the National Anthem and a briefing from the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr. David Hoyle. In his address, Dr. Hoyle reflected on the courage displayed by those who defended Britain, stating, “For their resilience and their skill we give thanks, for their pain and loss we grieve. Once again, we commit ourselves to the duty of an honest remembrance.”

A key moment in the service came when the Standard of No. 41 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was carried through the church and presented at the High Altar. This was followed by readings from Isaiah 58, delivered by reservist Sergeant Angela Luddington, and from 1 Corinthians, read by Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the Air Staff.

An Act of Remembrance saw the Battle of Britain Roll of Honour borne from the Grave of the Unknown Warrior to the Sacrarium, accompanied by serving descendants of the Battle of Britain airmen and Royal Air Force aircrew.

Wreaths were laid at the RAF Memorial before the service by personnel representing allied nations—New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and South Africa—acknowledging the international contributions that helped secure victory in the skies.

In his Act of Rededication, the Dean urged the congregation to commit themselves to building a world of justice and peace, saying, “Let us rededicate ourselves to building a world where there is justice and peace for all, and where each may live with full human dignity.”

The event concluded with a fly-past of an Avro Lancaster bomber from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, offering a poignant reminder of the aircraft that played a vital role in the RAF’s defence strategy during the war.

This year’s anniversary holds additional significance as the Royal Auxiliary Air Force celebrates its centenary. A quarter of the squadrons involved in the Battle of Britain were from the Auxiliary Air Force, which accounted for a third of combat victories. Reservists from various squadrons were seated in the congregation, reflecting on their predecessors’ crucial role in one of Britain’s finest hours.

The Venerable Dr. Giles Legood, Chaplain-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force, underscored the importance of reservists in his address, noting that their dedication remains just as vital today as it was 84 years ago.

As the congregation left the Abbey, the spirit of “the few” was powerfully felt, a testament to the bravery, sacrifice, and resilience that helped protect the country in its darkest days.