Civic service to celebrate the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – Coventry City Council
A Civic Service is to be held in Coventry to give thanks for the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The service, which is being arranged by the City Council, will be held at 4pm on Sunday (18 September) inside Coventry Cathedral – the day before the State Funeral.
Members of the Public are welcome to attend, and the service will also be webcast via the Coventry Cathedral Facebook page (www.facebook.com/coventrycathedral) and the Coventry Cathedral Live Stream Facebook page (www.facebook.com/cathlivestream).
Guests will include the Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, John Crabtree OBE who is the Monarch’s representative in the West Midlands; the Lord Mayor of Coventry Cllr Kevin Maton; Leader of Coventry City Council, Cllr George Duggins; Leader of the Conservative Opposition Group at the Council, Cllr Gary Ridley; and representatives from the Emergency Services and Armed Forces.
The service will be led by the Very Reverend John Witcombe, Dean of Coventry, with The Right Reverend John Stroyan, Bishop of Warwick, preaching.
Lord Mayor of Coventry, Cllr Kevin Maton, said: “Our much-loved monarch visited our city many times over her long reign and the love and respect of the people of Coventry was clear for all to see.
“Now, as we mourn her loss, we must also remember and give thanks for an incredible life of service and dedication and remember the joy and inspiration Her Majesty brought to so many lives. This service will allow us to do that and to pay our respects as a city.”
Dean John Witcombe, said: “We share in Coventry Cathedral with so many in our country in feeling a special closeness with our Queen. Her Majesty laid the foundation stone at the Cathedral in 1956 and returned for the consecration service six years later – an event wrought in the memories of so many of our visitors and community even today.
“We invite those of all faiths and none to share with us in celebrating the life of our beloved monarch in this place where all are welcome to offer prayer, or simply spend time in reflection, according to their own tradition.”
Members of the public are also invited to sign Books of Condolence available online, at the Cathedral, the Council House and libraries across the city, and to lay floral tributes in the Cathedral Ruins.
The Government has announced that Sunday will also see a one minute’s silence for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, with people asked to stand still at 8pm for a “national moment of reflection” on their doorsteps, individually at home, or at organised events.