A Memorial Mass for Queen Elizabeth II RIP is to be held at Brentwood Cathedral on 25 September at 11.30am. Bishop Alan Williams sm will be the principal celebrant. All are welcome.
On Friday Bishop Alan issued the following statement:
“I am greatly saddened to hear the news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I pray for the repose of her soul and for all the members of the Royal Family at this time of sorrow.
On 21 April 1947, her 21st birthday, in a speech broadcast on the radio from Cape Town, the then Princess Elizabeth dedicated her life to the service of the Commonwealth saying, ‘I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong’.
We give thanks for that lifetime of service to our country and for her leadership of the Church of England during her 70 year reign. The celebrations we witnessed earlier this year for her Platinum Jubilee show how much love and respect people had for her.
She will be remembered for her dedication, strength, warmth and her pride in our country. She was a woman of faith and a wonderful example of Christian discipleship.
May this good and faithful servant rest in the peace of the Risen Lord.”
On the day of the State Funeral of the late Queen (19 September) there will be a Requiem Mass for the repose of her soul at St Anne’s, Custom House in the Royal Docks parish of Our Lady of Walsingham.
Crowds outside Buckingham Palace on day of Queen’s death c Marcin Mazur/Catholic Church