The death of the Queen was marked by the following events;
8/9/22 – A single bell tolling on the night of the announcement of Her Majesty’s death.
9/9/22 – Service of Reflection and Thanksgiving
Led by churchwarden, John De Val.
The service included short extracts from some of the Queen’s broadcasts. It included the following from a broadcast on her 21st birthday in 1947;
I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service, and to the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong”
and from her first Christmas broadcast in 1952 looking ahead to her coronation the following year;
Many grave problems and difficulties confront us all, but with a new faith in the old and splendid beliefs given us by our forefathers, and the strength to venture beyond the safeties of the past, I know we shall be worthy of our duty.
Above all, we must keep alive that courageous spirit of adventure that is the finest quality of youth; and by youth I do not just mean those who are young in years; I mean too all those who are young in heart, no matter how old they may be. That spirit still flourishes in this old country and in all the younger countries of our Commonwealth.
On this broad foundation let us set out to build a truer knowledge of ourselves and our fellowmen, to work for tolerance and understanding among the nations and to use the tremendous forces of science and learning for the betterment of man’s lot upon this earth.
You will be keeping it as a holiday; but I want to ask you all, whatever your religion may be, to pray for me on that day – to pray that God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making, and that I may faithfully serve Him and you, all the days of my life.
The bells of St Michael’s were rung fully muffled before the service. Bells are normally only rung fully muffled (i.e. muffle on both sides of the clapper) on the occasion of the death of the monarch. The bells are rung half muffled for funerals and Remembrance Sunday.
Local ringers Mary Read and Neville Browning were joined by three friends from the Peterborough Branch to complete the band.
10/9/22 – Proclamation of Charles III
Read by John De Val
18/9/22 – Service of Commemoration and Vigil
This service included the words of the Queen’s last Christmas broadcast in 2021 which was very personal and is worth reading as it can remind us all of some the qualities which she demonstrated during the 70 years of her reign. It can be found at
https://www.royal.uk/christmas-broadcast-2021
19/9/22 – A single muffled bell tolled on the morning of Her Majesty’s funeral
May she rest in peace.
