The Silent Minute was born from a conversation between two soldiers on the eve of a battle in the mountains around Jerusalem in the First World War. One knew he would not survive the war and prophesied the coming of an even greater conflict that would be fought out in every continent via ocean and air. He urged his comrade to provide an opportunity for him, and millions like him, to assist from the “other side.” He said, “Lend us a moment… each day and through your Silence give us an opportunity. The power of Silence is greater than you know.”

The Silent Minute was instituted by his comrade, Major Tudor Pole O.B.E., during the London Blitz in 1940 as a moment to enter into Silence and to provide a portal for cooperation with an “unseen but mighty army” in the subtle realms.

The Silent Minute called upon all citizens of the British Commonwealth nations and territories on land, sea, and air to unite in thought — irrespective of philosophy or religion — in a Silent Prayer for Peace and Freedom. Every night on BBC radio, at one minute before the hour, the bells of Big Ben signalled the Silent Minute to begin at 9:00pm. Tudor Pole knew that if enough people joined in this gesture of dedicated intent, the tide would turn and the invasion of England would be diverted. Indeed, its success in bringing peace was acknowledged after the war by a high-ranking German officer who was quoted as saying:

“… you had a secret weapon for which we could find no countermeasure and which we did not understand, but it was very powerful. It was associated with the striking of the Big Ben each evening. I believe you called it ‘The Silent Minute.’”