Prayers said for troops (From Oxford Mail)

Prayers said for troops

PRAYERS have been said at a special service for troops fighting and dying in Afghanistan.

Dr Ken Stallard

Minister Dr Ken Stallard led the Sunday afternoon prayers at Appleton Chapel in Badswell Lane.

A framed picture of servicemen and women who have died fighting in Afghanistan took pride of place during the service.

It was the second service dedicated to military personnel in Afghanistan to take place at the chapel in two years.

Dr Stallard, the chapel’s minister for the past 36 years, said: “We pledged at the start of the Afghanistan War that we would pray for all the servicemen and women that go there.”

“I worked with the MoD as an administrative officer for 40 years and I saw first hand what they go through and the psychological problems they encounter.

“At every event we have, whether it’s a service or a social evening or a Bible study evening, we always pray for the military.”

Five members of the chapel congregation are servicemen, however none of them were able to attend Sunday’s service.

Harry Toomey, 76, of Appleton, wore medals won when he served with the Durham Light Infantry during the Korean War.

He said: “It’s very important to pray for servicemen.

“You have your First World War and the Second World War and then the Korean War.

“It just goes on and on.

“You can’t forget these people. What is happening at the moment is bad.”