The Anglican Bishop of Bermuda has joined with other churches and community groups to hold a special service to thank Bermuda’s hurricane heroes.

Bishop Nicholas Dill said the service would also remember those whose homes suffered serious damage and the thousands left without power for several days.

“It’s good to be seen to be coming together and to have an opportunity to thank those people who have helped the community and for those who are still in dire straits,” he said.

“We want to thank God for bringing us through two storms and for Bermuda’s resilience and acknowledge, and thank all those groups that help and to pray for those for whom life continues to be a struggle.

“We do want to acknowledge the Bermuda Regiment — I know a lot of them have been helping everyone else when their own homes may be in a mess. Along with many others, they put their lives on the line and their lives on hold, and we want to recognise that spirit in our community.”

Bishop Dill said the Regiment was not alone in aiding the community, saying the Fire Service, police, government workers from Parks and Works and Engineering as well as teams from power firm Belco and staff from the telecoms firms also deserved thanks for their efforts to get the Island back to normal.

He also thanked the media for their work in keeping the public informed, saying: “They all had a role to play in keeping us connected, informed and safe.”

The service, to be held at lunchtime on Wednesday at City Hall in Hamilton, was organised in conjunction with community group Imagine Bermuda, the Family Centre and other churches, including the Catholic Church, the AME Church, Seventh Day Adventists, the First Church of God and the New Testament Church of God.

Imagine co-ordinator Glenn Fubler said: “With two storms, we’ve been through probably the most challenging week that Bermuda’s seen in decades.

“This event is to show appreciation for those organisations like the Regiment, especially so because they have to go the extra mile, and Belco, BTC, the police and others who were out there — all those who were more vulnerable than most of us.”

Bermuda Regiment Commanding Officer Michael Foster-Brown said: “The Regiment is humbled and appreciative of this gesture. I’d encourage our soldiers to attend in their combat uniforms if they can and we hope employers will allow them to wear their uniforms to work to show their support for our citizen soldiers.

“These storms have highlighted the Regiment’s enduring importance as the Island’s insurance policy. Our soldiers are predominantly part-time and we ask a lot of them, but, as I knew they would, in Bermuda’s time of need they rose to the challenge with enthusiasm and professionalism — just as they will when the next emergency inevitably comes.

“Our soldiers are tired after a busy two weeks, but morale is high. The gratitude for our work has been sustaining and, like Bermuda itself, the Regiment is resilient.”

The service will be held from 12.30pm to 2pm at City Hall, with the Anglican Cathedral on Church Street as the alternative site in case of rain.