Services of Commemoration and Thanksgiving

13th September 2022

Details of cathedral services for Her Majesty the Queen.

Three beams of light will pierce the darkness above Lichfield Cathedral on Sunday during the National Moment of Reflection as a mark of remembrance and hope in an installation artwork Light of Hope by artist Peter Walker.

It is part of a vigil to be held in front of the cathedral when candles will be lit, prayers offered and a bell will toll 96 times in remembrance of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

More services of commemoration and thanksgiving for the Queen are taking place this weekend at our cathedrals before she is laid to rest on Monday 19 September, the National Day of Mourning.

All our cathedrals are open with extended hours for people to pay their respects, sign a book of condolence, light candles, leave flowers, say prayers, join in regular services or simply just to be.

Prayers are being offered regularly throughout the day to commend Her Late Majesty to God’s safekeeping and for the Royal Family.

Cathedral flags are flying at half-mast, the bells are muffled, and Durham Cathedral is lit purple each evening in honour of The Queen.

Photo credit: Peter Walker Sculptor

Do check individual cathedral websites for up to date information

Birmingham Cathedral will hold a civic Thanksgiving Service of Remembrance at 6pm on Friday 16 Septemberwith entry on a ‘first come first served’ basis. Please check their website and social channels for more information.

Blackburn Cathedral will hold the County service of Thanksgiving for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday 18 September at 2.00pm.

Free to attend but please book a ticket here. You are advised to be in your seat by 1:30 pm.

Bradford Cathedral will hold its Civic Commemoration and Thanksgiving for the Queen this Sunday at 6pm. It will be live-streamed.

Bristol Cathedral have already held “A Civic Choral Evensong: A service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving for the Life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”

The service on Tuesday was open to the public providing an opportunity for the City and Diocese of Bristol to pay respects to Her Late Majesty the Queen. In attendance was the Lord Lieutenant, Lord Mayor, community representatives and political and religious leaders from across Bristol.

Read and download a prayer for Her Majesty the Queen.

Canterbury cathedral will hold its  Civic Service to Commemorate the Life of the Queen at 11 am this Sunday , 18th September.

Everyone welcome to attend. First come first seated.

Cathedral Isle of Man – will hold a Requiem Mass at 10.30am Sunday and later at 3.30pm the Civic and Cathedral Choral Evensong in Thanksgiving for the Queen’s life. All are welcome.

Chelmsford Cathedral, on Sunday 18th September will be holding a special civic Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at 3.30pm.

This service brings together representatives from across the Diocese and the civic life of Chelmsford and Essex. The Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, the Bishop of Chelmsford, will be giving an address. All are welcome to attend this service, please reserve a free ticket via Eventbrite. If you are not able to attend, you can watch the service from home via Facebook and the Cathedral website.

Chester Cathedral will hold A Service of Thanksgiving for HM Queen Elizabeth II in the presence of the Lord Lieutenant, the High Sheriff, Lord Mayor of Chester and Mayors in Cheshire at 3pm on Sunday 18 September 2022. Doors open at 2.15 – you can reserve your seat at the service.

You may view the service on their official YouTube channel.

Chichester Cathedral will hold two special services of Choral Evensong with Thanksgiving for the Life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at 3.00pm on both Saturday 17th September and Sunday 18th September, led by the Dean. The Bishop of Chichester, The Right Reverend Dr Martin Warner, will preach and give God’s blessing at both services. The Sunday service will be attended by civic dignitaries from across the County and will be live-streamed.

Booking is not required and attendees must be seated 2.30pm.

The Sunday service will be live-streamed.

Christ Church Oxford will hold its civic Service of commemoration and thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth II

On Sunday at 6pm. Doors open 5.30pm. The service will be live streamed on the cathedral’s YouTube channel. On Monday the cathedral will hold a Requiem Mass at 1pm for the Queen as part of the live screening of the funeral service.

Coventry Cathedral. This Sunday at 4pm a Civic Service is to be held at Coventry Cathedral to give thanks for the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. All are welcome to join. The service will also be live-streamed on their Facebook page.

The New Cathedral and Ruins will be open from 10am – 8pm on Sunday for all who wish to pause, reflect and pay their respects, light a candle or sign the books of condolence.  At 8pm we will join in the nation’s minute of silence.  This will be preceded by a short act of Prayer at the Close of the Day.

Derby Cathedral’s Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving will take place on Wednesday, 14 September at 5.30pm.

The Very Revd Dr Peter Robinson, Dean of Derby, said

“This is a service for everyone – wherever they live in Derby or Derbyshire”

The service will also be attended by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire, the High Sheriff of Derbyshire, the Mayor of the City of Derby and the Civic Chairman of Derbyshire County Council.

Derby Cathedral will also host a Service of Reflection on Sunday 18th September at 5.15pm.

Durham Cathedral will release a further 200 tickets at 7pm today (Tuesday) for people to join their Service of Reflection on the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II this Saturday 17 September at 3pm, which is currently fully booked.

It will not be possible to enter the cathedral without a ticket, but the service will also be live-streamed on Durham Cathedral’s Facebook page.

Book a ticket to attend the service.

Join the service on Durham Cathedral’s Facebook page.

The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel, Acting Dean of Durham, said:

“Durham Cathedral stands in mourning with the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth at this moment of profound grief at the death of Her Majesty The Queen. Grief is the price we pay for love and the love we have borne for decades for this remarkable woman deepens our grief – a grief we share with the whole world.

“The Queen has been a focus for unity for people of all sorts and conditions – not least through a selfless sense of duty which sprang directly from her Christian faith. She stood alongside us at times of rejoicing and at times of grief and we stand now with the Royal Family and with each other, in mourning, but with a sense of rejoicing that Queen Elizabeth rests now in the eternal arms of God Almighty. We look now to her legacy and we pray for The King and all the Royal Family and we pray for each other as we journey on in faith and hope and love after the example of Jesus Christ – Elizabeth’s pattern and guide – and our Lord.”

Services of Commemoration and thanksgiving for Her Majesty The Queen

Ely Cathedral will hold A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’ at 10.30am on Sunday 18 September which will be live-streamed here.

Exeter Cathedral will hold a Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving for Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. on Sunday 18 September at 3pm. Doors will open at 14:00pm, please be seated in the Cathedral by 14:45. Admittance to this service is by ticket only.

In order to accommodate as many people as possible some seating will be in the Cathedral Quire and South Transept.

Accordingly, there will be restricted/no views of the service in some seats.

More than a thousand people are expected to attend the service, which takes place with hundreds more expected to watch from home as it is live-streamed on the Cathedral’s Facebook page.

Cathedral Services for Her Majesty the Queen

Gloucester Cathedral, the Diocese of Gloucester and Gloucestershire Lieutenancy will hold a Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving for the Life of Queen Elizabeth II in the cathedral this Sunday 18 September at 3pm.

The service will give thanks for the life and reign of The Late Queen and offer prayers for the new king, His Majesty King Charles III. This service will be attended by representatives from across the city, county and diocese, and members of the public are warmly welcome.

The Interim Dean of Gloucester, Canon Dr Andrew Braddock, said:

“Queen Elizabeth II’s remarkable life of service and duty was built on her strong Christian faith. The special service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving for her will reflect all these themes. It is an opportunity for us to come together, as we share our profound sense of loss at The Late Queen’s death and give thanks for a life fully lived.”

The service is free but ticketed and you can register for a free ticket in advance subject to availability.

The service will also be live-streamed to the Cathedral websiteYouTube channel and Facebook page so that those who wish to watch online can do so.

Leicester Cathedral will hold a Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday at St James the Greater Church, at 5.30pm on Sunday 18 September.

Lichfield Cathedral A service of Commemoration marking the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be held at Lichfield Cathedral on Sunday 18 September. Doors will open at 2:45pm. All are welcome to attend.

Manchester Cathedral will hold a Requiem Mass giving thanks for the life of The Queen this Sunday  at 10.30am and a Civic Service of Thanksgiving will take place at 2.30pm. A tribute will be paid by Bishop of Manchester David Walker. All are welcome to attend.

Newport Cathedral from the Church in Wales has a Service of Commemoration of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday at 4.00pm.

This will be led by the Dean and the preacher will be the Bishop. The Lord Lieutenant of Gwent will read the lesson and other civic dignitaries will be present too.

Norwich Cathedral will host a Service of Thanksgiving and Commemoration for the Life and Reign of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second on Thursday 15 September at 7pm.

All are welcome to attend the service which will also be live-streamed on the Norwich Cathedral Services YouTube Channel.

Special service of thanksgiving for Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Photo credit – Bill Smith.

Newcastle Cathedral will hold A Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving for the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II this Sunday at 4pm.

All are welcome to this service held on the eve of the State Funeral. The full Cathedral Choir will be in attendance, along with the Vice-Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, the High Sheriff of Tyne and Wear, the Acting Bishop of Newcastle and civic dignitaries.
Booking is not required, however, spaces are strictly limited. Please arrive to be seated before 3:30pm. This service will also be live-streamed via the cathedral’s YouTube channel.

It will be open to members of the public to attend on a first come, first seated basis and will also be live-streamed online.

Peterborough Cathedral saw huge crowds for their Civic Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving on Sunday after the local proclamation and will hold a Vigil service at 7pm on Sunday 18th September.

Portsmouth Cathedral will welcome people from across the city to attend A Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving for the Life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The service will be an opportunity for the people of the City and Diocese of Portsmouth to come together and express their affection and gratitude for our late Sovereign. The service will be attended by the Deputy Lord-Lieutenant, the Lord Mayor, the Leader of the City Council, as well as several other civic and community leaders.

The Bishop of Portsmouth, The Right Reverend Dr Jonathan Frost, will be preaching at the service on Sunday with the Portsmouth Cathedral Choir singing music drawn from across the nations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Music will include Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s ‘Pie Jesu’, as well as ‘We wait for thy loving kindness, O Lord’ by William McKie, sung at the Queen’s wedding 75 years ago.

Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II last visited the Cathedral in 1998 for the Royal Maundy service, and since the announcement of her death people from all walks of life have been visiting the Cathedral to pay their respects and sign condolence books. The Cathedral continues to open for extended hours during the National Mourning period from 8:00am until 7:00pm daily, with all welcome to join services throughout the week.

The Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving will start at 3:00pm on Sunday 18 September at Portsmouth Cathedral and will also be available to stream from the Cathedral’s website. Portsmouth Cathedral will also be holding a vigil on Sunday evening after Choral Evensong.

Ripon Cathedral will hold a Service of Commemoration for the Region following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with the Bishop of Leeds. The service will be live streamed, All welcome. Please be seated by 3pm.

Rochester Cathedral. As part of our commemoration of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, there will be a Requiem Eucharist at Rochester Cathedral at 3.15pm on Saturday 17th September, attended by representatives from across the Diocese and the civic life of Kent, Medway, Bromley and Bexley.  The Rt. Revd. Dr. Jonathan Gibbs, Bishop of Rochester, will preside and preach.

All are welcome to attend this service.  The service is not ticketed, and seats will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Sheffield Cathedral will hold its Civic service of thanks and remembrance at 6pm this Sunday with large screens set up on the cathedral forecourt to allow the service to be screened externally.

Southwark will hold a Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving on Sunday 18 September (online and in person) at 3pm.

Night prayer is offered at 9.30pm every night in Southwark Cathedral and this Friday 16 September there will be a  Requiem Eucharist for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (online and in person) at 5.30pm.

Southwell Minster. The principal service of thanksgiving for the life of Queen Elizabeth II in Nottinghamshire takes place in Southwell Minster on Sunday at 3.00pm. Please be seated by 2.30pm. The preacher will be the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Rt Revd Paul Williams. The service will include a tribute to the late Queen by the Lord-Lieutenant and will include representatives of groups with close links to Queen Elizabeth.

St Albans Cathedral will have their Service of Thanksgiving on Sunday 18 September, 6pm – 7pm. It will be sung by the Cathedral Choirs.

There will be no reserved seating, so you are advised to arrive in good time.

Their service will also be live streamed on their YouTube channel here.

St Davids Cathedral from the Church in Wales – Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving for the Queen at 11.15am  Sunday 18 September sung by the Cathedral Choir.

St Edmundsbury Cathedral – will host the County Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving dedicated to remembering the life Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at 11.30 am on Saturday 17 September and will include prayers and music for invited guests and members of the public. HM Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Clare, Countess of Euston will lay a wreath of English roses in memory of the Queen during the service.

Truro Cathedral will hold A Special Commemorative Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II at 4pm on Sunday 18 September. People can view or download the order of service and the service will be live-streamed on the cathedral’s YouTube channel too.
All welcome to this special service.

Wakefield Cathedral will hold a Choral Evensong on the eve of the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II from 3.30 – 4.30pm

Wells – On Sunday 18 September at 3.00pm, the Cathedral joins with The Lord Lieutenant and the people of Somerset in a service of commemoration with thanksgiving for the life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022). The service will be held in place of Evensong and will feature music from throughout the Queen’s life. Those who wish to attend are asked to be seated by 2.45pm.

Winchester Cathedral will hold a special service this Saturday at 6pm at Winchester Cathedral, details here – it will be livestreamed so people can join from wherever they are in the world.

This special one-hour service will feature music from military bands and the Cathedral Choirs as well as contributions from representatives of charities of which the late Queen was patron. The tribute will be given by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson Esq.

In a statement, the Dean of Winchester said:

It is with enormous sadness that we mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II. She has been a shining bright symbol of faithful service to the nation and Commonwealth. More than this Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has been dear to our hearts as a reassuringly good and steady influence in a changing world. She has been a loving presence for us, ‘ever faithful, ever sure.’

We send our heart-felt condolences to the Royal Family and pray that they will know comfort in their sad loss. Princess Elizabeth was just 21 when she made a solemn promise: ‘I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service. God help me to make good my vow’. This has been her life-long vocation and she has kept her promise faithfully throughout all the changes and chances of life.

Her life of service, inspired by Christian faith and understanding, is one of those highly significant, but easily overlooked things that has formed part of the background to each of our lives as individuals and to the life of the nation. Queen Elizabeth has given stability to the values that undergird and support our common life, and enable us to live together including fairness, mutual respect and tolerance.”

Worcester Cathedral will hold a Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday 18 September at 4pm, with civic and diocesan representatives in attendance. All are welcome.

The Dean of Worcester, Peter Atkinson, said:

We are all deeply saddened by the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, monarch

for the whole of the lives of most of us. We give thanks to God for her life of selfless and

unstinting service, to which she dedicated herself at her Coronation. We give thanks too for her inspiring Christian witness. We pray for the Royal Family in their time of grief, and especially for our new King and Queen. As at so many times in the history of our City and

County down the centuries, we welcome all people to come to Worcester Cathedral to give thanks, to mourn, to remember, to reflect, and to pray for God’s blessing on the new reign.

God Save The King”

This service will also be live-streamed.