“My thoughts and prayers are with the Royal Family as, with many, we mourn the death of Her Majesty, the Queen. Queen Elizabeth’s unswerving faith and commitment to Christ were at the very foundations of her reign, and she was an example to us all. During her reign our nation experienced a period of unprecedented global change and development, and through it all, she served with grace and dignity. This nation has been blessed to have her as our Queen and, though we mourn alongside her family, we also rejoice in the hope of resurrection through the Lord she served.”
Acting Bishop of Winchester – The Rt Revd Debbie Sellin
General Guidance
Guidance for Schools
Guidance for Churches
Instructions and resources for Churches (from the Church of England)
The following instructions and resources are now available for churches:
- Messages from the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York.
- The official Prayer, liturgy, and other resources are now also available on the Church of England website: www.churchofengland.org/remembering-her-majesty-queen
- As previously communicated, instructions about flags, bells, book of condolence etc are available to download. This information is also available on AChurchNearYou.com.
- We have also published this press release: Church bells to toll and prayers said across England as nation enters mourning
- Click here to download the national C of E’s document that lists guidance for parish churches, including items relating to church bells, flags and the order of events during the 10 days of national mourning.
- The British Flag Institute has guidance for churches and civic buildings with flag poles. Any flags should currently be at half-mast.
- The Central Council for Church Bell Ringers has published guidance on bell ringing during this period of mourning.
Liturgical and prayer resources
- The national Church of England’s official prayer, liturgical resources and the chance to sign a virtual condolence book can be found here.
- Read the national C of E’s press release about how parish churches across our nation will respond here.
- A number of hymns recorded by the choir and organists of St Martin-in-the-Fields are available for download on our website to be used in services where the capacity for musical or choral accompaniment might be limited. More are available from the A Church Near You resources hub (editor access required).
Social media
Guidance from the Government website
National Mourning period: guidance for faith and belief groups and places of worship
DLUHC has issued guidance for faith and belief groups and those who manage places of worship, who may wish to play an active role during this period.
Faith and belief groups will be keen to play their part in supporting communities across the country through this difficult period. The material below suggests some ways for such groups to play an active role, in line with the wider process of National Mourning, ahead of the State Funeral itself.
The document is not intended to be prescriptive or a rulebook. Every community will have its own ways of marking the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It provides some general guidance and suggestions that places of worship, and faith and belief groups more generally, may wish to consider when making their own plans for services or other events.