Durham Cathedral hosts a memorial service for Queen Elizabeth II
By Daniel Hodgson & Nicole Wu
The City’s cathedral played host to a service at 3pm yesterday (Saturday 17th September) to commemorate the life of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The ‘Service of Prayer and Reflection upon the Death of Queen Elizabeth II’ began with a procession accompanied by a hymn, followed by an introduction by the Acting Dean, The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel. “As we gather here in Durham Cathedral, we stand together in grief and mourning at death of Queen Elizabeth II”
“In this service, we pray for the repose of her soul and we look to her legacy in Our Sovereign Lord The King for whom we also pray.” After the introduction, the Lord’s Prayer was recited by the congregation.
Before the service began, the Acting Dean greeted Professor Karen O’Brien, Vice Chancellor of Durham University along with the High Sheriff of the County Palatine of Durham, the Mayor of Durham, and the Chair of Durham County Council and escorted them to their seats. HM Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, Mrs Sue Snowdon was also greeted and guided to her seat.
During the service, HM Lord Lieutenant, Sue Snowden read the First Lesson as is written in the Book of Proverbs, Chapter 8 and Durham University Vice Chancellor, Karen O’Brien recited the Second Lesson as written in the Book of Revelation, Chapter 21.
Photography: Nicole Wu
During the Nunc dimittis, the Durham Cathedral’s inscribed Books of Condolence were borne to the High Altar by young people and placed there in prayer. The Books were unavailable on Saturday, however will be available to sign on Monday 19th September 9am to 5pm.
More than 100 people tuned in on the Cathedral’s Facebook to watch the service streamed live. One viewer commented on the livestream, “So amazing that although I’m at the other end of the country, I can join in this service in beloved Durham Cathedral.”
The event had been ticketed, and free tickets had fully booked prior to the service. There were unexpectedly, however, tickets available on the door. The cathedral was then full for the service, with people sitting tightly together in the central pews to pay their respects and listen to the lessons.
The Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, spoke about three components during his homily: the Queen’s head, the Queen’s hands and the Queen’s heart.
“As we gather here in Durham Cathedral, we stand together in grief and mourning at death of Queen Elizabeth II”
Acting Dean: The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel
He said “She was a woman of enormous compassion and great courage… Her fortitude, when her beloved lifelong partner Prince Phillip died, was seen in her solitary state at his funeral. Setting her example for the nation in the midst of the Covid pandemic.
“She knew her duty as sovereign and with immense courage, and no doubt, deep personal cost, she kept to her duty. Her heart was filled with love, her love for her husband, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was very deep. She loved the nation and all its people. On her visits, she displayed an interest in who people were, more than what they did.”
After the address came the prayers and thanksgivings. The service then concluded with the singing of the National Anthem ‘God Save the King’.
Photography by Nicole Wu
