Photo: Yui Mok/PA
On Sunday, 11 September, Bishop Michael, Bishop Ruth and the Archdeacon of Taunton attended the Local Proclamation ceremony in Taunton at 1pm. The Proclamation was the formal county announcement of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's death and the commencement of King Charles III’s new reign.
The Proclamation was read out by the High Sheriff of Somerset, Jennifer Duke, in front of the Market House in Taunton town centre. Representatives from five councils – Somerset County Council, Somerset West and Taunton Council, Sedgemoor District Council, Mendip District Council and South Somerset District Council were in attendance together with representatives of the armed forces and the police.
A large crowd gathered in the Market Square and gave three loud cheers as King Charles III was proclaimed as the new King. All gathered sang the national anthem with the new words, 'God save our gracious King.' Throughout the day people continued to leave floral tributes to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll, outside Taunton Minster.
Bishop Michael said, "We've given thanks for Queen Elizabeth, prayed for the new King and thought about this change that we are going through together. The last three days who would've imagined that we would go on such a journey so quickly? And that need to be together, to make sense of this. I think we need that deep communal experiences right now to come to terms with all this change. I think it's wonderful we are here, and it is wonderful we are together. "
Bishop Ruth echoed Bishop Michael's comments, "Giving thanks for The Queen's life is giving thanks for seventy years of consistency and constancy, her faithful service to us and now that is handed on to her son Charles.That sense of one chapter coming to an end and one begining."
You can see a video of the historic announcement in Taunton, below.
Following the announcement of the new King in Taunton, city, town and parish councils across the diocese also made their proclamations. 150 people came to hear hear the civic proclamation made at St John's Church in Wellington by the town's Mayor. Revd Richard Kelley said prayers for Her Majesty and for King Charles.Throughout the week St John's Church has been open each day from 10am until 4pm, for private prayer and reflection, people have also been able to sign the civic and church books of condolence and to leave flowers along the driveway.
In Bath the ceremony took place at 2pm on the steps of the Guildhall and in Wells the announcement was made at the Town Hall at 3pm.
On Saturday, in London King Charles III was proclaimed King in a ceremony at St James’s Palace. The day was a formal acknowledgement of the passing of one monarch and the proclamation the new one on behalf of the government, as part of the constitutional process.
