October 14, 2025
Annual National Service for Seafarers: Maritime community honours seafarers at St Paul’s Cathedral
Seafarers past and present from around the world gathered at St Paul’s on Wednesday 8th October for the Annual National Service for Seafarers (ANSS).
Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal and the Archbishop of Canterbury-elect offered prayers and readings, while representatives from more than 20 countries gathered to give thanks to the global seafaring workforce.
The Seafarers’ Charity is delighted to report on a moving and uplifting Annual National Service for Seafarers.
The ANSS honours seafarers from all maritime sectors: the Merchant and Royal Navies, fishing fleets, workboats, cruise liners, commercial ships, ferries, yachts, and others working at sea.
As in previous years, the venue was St Paul’s Cathedral – our organisers believe there is no more fitting location to offer thanks to generations of seafarers who do so much to protect international peace and security, as well as delivering global trade.
The cathedral was at capacity, welcoming maritime welfare charities, nautical schools, youth groups, veterans’ associations, and people of all faiths and backgrounds.
We were delighted that HRH The Princess Royal was able to attend and take an active part in the service.
The Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett gave the bidding to the congregation, before Martin Davidson, chief executive of the Outward Bound Trust, read an extraordinary first-hand account of cadet John Ross’s survival in a lifeboat for 27 days after his ship was torpedoed during the Second World War.
Commodore Sam Shattock of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary read a lesson as this year, the service marked the organisation’s 120th anniversary. Staffed by civilian Merchant Seafarers, the RFA supports the Royal Navy in combat operations, counter-piracy missions, disaster relief, and evacuations worldwide.
Princess Anne the Princess Royal then delivered the second lesson. HRH kindly met with organisers and members of the congregation following the service.
The evening’s sermon was given by the Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth, Dean of Windsor, College of St George, who reflected on his own grandfather’s naval service. After a litany of intercessions on behalf of seafarers, the Reverend Edward Willis, Chaplain of the Fleet Auxiliary, delivered The Naval Prayer.
Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, Bishop of London, then gave the blessing. Dame Sarah is one of The Seafarers’ Charity’s vice presidents, and was recently named as Archbishop of Canterbury-elect, where she will be the first woman to hold the post.
The service concluded with the national anthem. Freddy Onono, our charity’s finance analyst who also served at sea, was The Seafarers’ Charity flagbearer for the service
