Introduction to Service

Three hundred years ago today Edward Winslow, a great English pioneer, a great Civil Servant of the Commonwealth, and a great Christian was buired at sea in the West Indies.

He was a leader of that famous band, known today as the "Pilgrim Fathers," who sailed to America in the Mayflower in the year 1620 seeking there the freedom of expression of their Christian Faith.  It fell to Edward Winslow's special lot to promote in England a good understanding of the needs, actions, and purposes of those doughty pioneers.  In most ably fulfilling this duty he became the first great protagonist of those good Anglo-American relations so prized today in both England and America, and which mean so much to the world in terms of peace and freedom.  In this service of Evensong, following the same order of service known to Edward when a boy at school at Worcester, we will remember not only his name, but also, as he would greatly wish, the Christian aims to which he gave his life : that we may thus continue in our own lives his work and further in the lives of our two Nations the freedoms that we cherish, and which Christ reveals to men through those who acknowledge Him.

R.E. Thomas & Newman, Ltd., 4 Fitzroy Street, London, W.1.
Printers to the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's Cathedral.