St Peter’s Church will open a Book of Condolence later today and parishoners are welcome to come to church to reflect on Her Majesty’s life, to light a candle and share thoughts and prayers.
The bell will toll at 12noon today.
Floral tributes are most welcome and can be placed in the area at the High Altar, where you will find the Book of Condolence.
Evening prayers will be said at 6pm each evening from Monday during this time of mourning and you are welcome to join us then or at other times of day to reflect quietly.
We invite you to our service this coming Sunday, 11th September, 2022 at 10:30am to reflect together. This service will include Holy Communion.
We hope you can join us and everyone is welcome over the coming days.
O God, the maker and redeemer of all mankind, grant us, with thy
servant QUEEN ELIZABETH and all the faithful departed, the sure
benefits of thy Son’s saving passion and glorious resurrection; that in the
last day, when all things are gathered up in Christ, we may with them
enjoy the fullness of thy promises; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord,
who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one
Buckingham Palace has announced the sad news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This is a significant bereavement for our nation and will be felt deeply by many of us.
The Bishop of Leicester, Rt Revd Martyn Snow, said: “I learnt of the death of Her Majesty the Queen today with enormous sadness at the loss of a faithful, courageous and inspirational monarch.
“She was a great gift to our country, ruling for 70 years with complete dedication to her people and to her vocation. She succeeded in being Queen for all of us, whatever our status, beliefs or background. As we all know, she was held in deep respect and admiration across the world, by both ordinary people and international leaders.
“Having had the privilege of meeting her personally, I found Her Majesty to be warm and approachable, intensely interested in others and always keen to remind us that it is our common efforts that forge and maintain our community life. Her Christian faith provided an inspiration and encouragement to many, and was the motivation to her life-long desire to serve her country and the Commonwealth, and their people. We owe her a deep debt of gratitude.
“Today we pray for the Royal Family in their own grief, and extend our deepest sympathy to them.”
The Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow
The Dean of Leicester, the Very Revd David Monteith said: “I was so saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty and I join with our local communities in thanksgiving for her life and reign as well as mourning her great loss and praying for our new King.
“I was privileged to meet her and to host her at Leicester Cathedral when she came for her Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and for the Royal Maundy Service. Her presence was so compelling and engaging. She made sure that every meeting and handshake was a lovely and memorable encounter. From the oldest to the youngest, all were delighted to meet her and she was delighted to be in Leicester and she commented we so epitomised her modern day diverse country.
“Her own Christian faith was also so important to her. So, I pray that she may she rest in peace and that her family also may know God’s comfort.”
Bishop of Loughborough, the Rt Revd Saju Muthalaly said: “We are all feeling an immense loss; the loss of someone held in such high regard and affection for so many years. The grief we feel should not be hurried away but patiently borne with the help of the Lord as we take time to give thanks for such a remarkable life of service and faithfulness. I pray for our nation and commonwealth to follow her example as we unite in mourning our steadfast, gracious Queen, who devoted her entire life to us all and relied on God’s help to do so. Each of us following her example to live lives of service and faithfulness would be a fitting legacy.”
About HM The Queen and the Diocese of Leicester The Queen visited Leicester Cathedral with the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Cambridge at the start of her Diamond Jubilee tour of the country in 2012. She and the Duke visited again when Her Majesty distributed the Maundy money on Maundy Thursday 2017.
St Peter’s Church will open a Book of Condolence from tomorrow and parishoners are welcome to come to church to reflect on Her Majesty’s life, to light a candle and share thoughts and prayers.
A simple prayer of thanks for her Majesty’s long life and service – We rejoice in her unique ability to bring communities, countries and people together. Enjoy each other’s company over this Jubilee weekend and, we pray, for many years to come.
Long may she reign!
Gracious God, we give you thanks for the reign of your servant Elizabeth our Queen, and for the example of loving and faithful service which she has shown among us. Help us to follow her example of dedication and to commit our lives to you and to one another, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer courtesy of Diocese of Leicester, 2022
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her coronation
St Peter's Church, Church Langton 