The Community of Cross of Nails (CCN) Service of Reconciliation was led by our new Resident Chaplain Reverend Mark Perry.

Our select preacher was The Very Reverend Ulrike Schmidt-Hesse, former Dean of the Protestant Deanery of Darmstadt-City. The Very Reverend John Witcombe Dean of Coventry Cathedral also joined us.

During WWII Darmstadt was bombed a number of times. The most devastating air raid occurred on the night of 11/12 September 1944, when No. 5 Group of the Royal Air Force (RAF) bombed the city.

66,000 of the 110,000 inhabitants of Darmstadt at the time became homeless. Darmstadt lost between 12,500 and 13,500 inhabitants during World War II.

As a service of reconciliation, The Very Revd John Witcombe Dean of Coventry  joined us uniting us through the RAF Chaplaincy's partnership with the CCN. Members of the CCN strive to adhere to the three guiding principles of the Community of the Cross of Nails:

• Healing the wounds of history
• Learning to live with difference and celebrate diversity
• Building a culture of peace

A variety of people attended the service from across the Royal Air Force, the City of London, members of the public and ecumenical members from the RAF Chaplains' Profession. The service was a warm and memorable occasion.