Following the announcement of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, HRH Prince Philip, our bishops and the Dean of Worcester have offered the following tributes:
The Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge said:
“Millions of people, not just in this country but across the globe, will be saddened to learn of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh. As a most wonderful consort to Her Majesty the Queen, he has been centre stage for decades, bringing his considerable wisdom and wit to bear on so many situations. I join in giving thanks for the long life of a remarkable man and pray that he will rest in peace and rise in glory. I pray for comfort for all who mourn his passing, especially Her Majesty the Queen and all the Royal Family.”
The Dean of Worcester, Peter Atkinson, said:
“Prince Philip was a much-loved figure on the world stage for many decades. His support for Her Majesty the Queen throughout their long marriage, and his devotion to duty through countless public engagements until very recently, mark him out as one of the great men of our time. We mourn his passing, and are united in prayer for the Queen and the Royal Family.”
The Bishop of Dudley, Martin Gorick, said:
“Alongside everyone in Dudley I want to express my deepest sympathy to Her Majesty the Queen following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh. Many young people felt particularly connected with him through the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, which provided a strong grounding in service to the community and outdoor challenge. On the few occasions I was able to meet with him I found him someone with a great capacity for humour, and always interested in those he met. Prince Philip was a great servant of this country. We mourn his passing, and are united in prayer for the Queen and the Royal Family.”
The Church of England has an online condolence book for people to leave a message in memory of HRH Prince Philip on their website.
Worcester Cathedral will be open from 7.30am to 10pm on Saturday 10 April and Sunday 11 April for members of the public to pay their respects and light candles. The Cathedral will also host a memorial service on the day before the Duke's funeral with the cathedral choir and civic and diocesan representatives in attendance. Limited seating for members of the public will be available. Find out more
Prayer and liturgy resources along with other guidance for parishes can be found of the Church of England's website. (Scroll down on this page)
The ringing protocol is to chime a single bell 99 times at noon on Saturday 10 April. (NB: There is no relaxation about ringing on Sundays until mid May and therefore there should be no half muffled ringing on Sunday 11 April).
Photo credit: Press Association
