On Sunday 18th September there will be commemorative services at churches throughout the diocese of Bath and Wells as communities come together to worship and give thanks for the life and service of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II ahead of her funeral in London on Monday.
Bishop Michael will preach at a service of thanksgiving and commemoration for the life of HM Queen Elizabeth II at Wells Cathedral. Local dignitaries will be invited to help thank God for her life of duty and devotion, and to pray for the Royal Family. The service takes place at 3pm on September 18 and everyone is welcome.
At Bath Abbey on September 18 Choral Evensong at 3.30pm will be a Memorial Evensong and the Evening Service at 6.30pm will be a Service of Commemoration for Her Majesty. On Monday 19 September, there will be a live broadcast of the Queen’s funeral within the Abbey. This will commence at 10.30am. Again, all are most welcome to attend to watch the funeral from within the Abbey.
There will be a civic commemoration service in Wellington 9.45am at St John’s Church at on the September 18. It will be attended by the Mayor of Wellington and members of the town council. The service will have sign language interpretation. The service is open to everyone.
At Taunton Minster there will be prayers for The Queen, King Charles III and the Royal Family at morning services. At 5pm there will be a special commemorative service at the Minster.
In Yeovil at 11 am on Sunday 18 September the Birchfield Community Garden Revd Tina Hodgett will be lead a short reflection remembering The Queen. There will be a service of Morning Worship in memory of Her Majesty The Queen at Holy Trinity church in Yeovil at 11am. In St Mary Magdalene’s Church Barwick a service will take place at 9.30am the church will be open from 4-6pm for people to sign the village book of condolence.
A special service of remembrance and thanksgiving will be held on Sunday evening at 6pm in All Saints Long Ashton, this will be followed by a time of quiet prayer vigil concluding with the national silence at 8pm.
A similar service will take place at 6.30pm on Sunday September 18 at St John the Evangelist Church, Tatworth are holding an outdoor benefice service in remembrance of the Queen. The Platinum Jubilee beacon will be taken to the church grounds by members of Tatworth Parish Council and the congregation will gather around the lit beacon for the service. At the end a votive candle will be lit from the beacon and prayers for the new king, King Charles III, will be said before the candle is taken into church where it will remain lit, until his coronation. The beacon’s flame will be extinguished after the national silence at 8pm.
Services of Commemoration on 18 September will be held at 10.30am St Mary’s Wedmore, 5pm St Mary’s in Bridgwater, 6pm in St Peter's Church in Portishead at 10.45am in Winsford and 6pm Exford. St Stephen’s church in Bath will hold a Commemorative Service at 7.30, which will include the minute's silence at 8pm.
Since the announcement of the Queen’s death churches in Bath and Wells have been offering a place of welcome and sanctuary for anyone who seeks it, to pray for Her Majesty The Queen's life, for our new King, and for our nation. Visitors have be able to sign condolence books, light candles and say prayers in churches across Bath and Wells. Read more about what has been happening in the diocese.
For information about services in your area please search a A Church Near You for more information.