A MID Devon church was packed on Friday, June 28, for an "inspiring" special service to commemorate the centenary of the official end of the Great War.

The Bishop of Crediton, the Rt Rev Jackie Searle gave the address at the unique event held at St John the Baptist Church, Witheridge.

The service began with the playing of Edward Elgar’s "Nimrod". It ended with a rousing rendition of the composer’s "Pomp and Circumstance" – with the large congregation singing "Land of Hope and Glory" with great gusto.

Children from Witheridge Church of England Academy were at the heart of the event, performing so brilliantly an a capella version of "In Flanders Fields", one of the most famous poems of the Great War.

Among those attending were the Deputy Lieutenant of Devon, Mark Parkhouse, and Lt Colonel Bill Sharpe MBE and Lt Col Geoff Nicholls, chairman and secretary of the Devon and Dorset Regimental Association.

There were two Standard bearers – Des Mills, of Exeter, of the Devon and Dorset Regimental Association, who served in the Devonshire Regiment in 1949-1950, and Colin Horn, of Tiverton Royal British Legion.

The service, believed to be the only one of its kind in Devon and beyond, took place exactly 100 years after a peace treaty finally bringing the Great War to an end was signed at the Palace of Versailles, near Paris.

"It was an amazing commemoration, beyond anything that could have been hoped for," said author Paul Roberts who organised the event with the Rev Adrian Wells, the Vicar of Witheridge. "The service was immensely uplifting. It was wonderful to see the church full for this important and historic day."

The service, followed by a cream tea and cake celebration at the Parish Hall, raised almost £300 for church funds.

Children from Witheridge Church of England Academy were enthusiastically applauded for their brilliant and moving renditions of "In Flanders Fields" and "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace".

Some of the 20-plus pupils also performed a reading about the "joy, relief and great sadness as the war finally ended".

Chris Holding, head of the Academy, read about the "great rejoicing in Devon’s streets and at sea" as the peace celebrations began.

The Bishop spoke about the signing of the peace treaty in Versailles – and of the importance of waging peace after so many years of conflict.

In welcoming the large congregation, Adrian Wells said the service would reflect on how Devon celebrated the end of the war – and honour the many who fought and died and fought and lived.

Paul Roberts talked about the "heroic" Devonshire Regiment and how they are remembered in their home county and on the Western Front.

The congregation was told that the number of men and women from Devon who died in the war was equivalent to the entire present-day population of Ilfracombe, Honiton or Ivybridge.

That almost 12,000 of the county’s soldiers died between 1914 and 1918 – more than double the number of British Army and Navy casualties in all wars and conflicts since 1945.

Hymns sung included "I Vow to Thee My Country", "O Valiant Hearts" and "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty".

The service, which also included a reading by Paul Holmes, ended with the National Anthem and a blessing by Bishop Jackie.

All the scones, cakes and drinks at the Parish Hall were made and served by Hilary Partridge and her team.