Civic Service in Memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Published: 15 September 2022

Civic Service in Memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

St Michael’s Church in Basingstoke is to hold a Civic Service in Memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday 18 September.

Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane Cllr Paul Miller will be hosting the event at 3pm on Sunday afternoon, on the eve of the much-loved Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

Residents are welcome to come to the service but, with space in the church limited, free tickets for the event have to be booked on a first come, first served basis. Free tickets are available to book via EventBrite - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/civic-service-for-hm-queen-elizabeth-ii-tickets-418624857217 To ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to get tickets, each booking has been limited to a maximum of six.

The service will also be live streamed by St Michael’s Church on https://live.basingstoketeamparish.org.uk from 3pm on Sunday.

The Reverend John Hudson, Rector of Basingstoke Church, will lead the service, with Bishop of Basingstoke the Right Reverend David Williams giving the sermon and the blessing. Toju Ogbe of Basingstoke African Caribbean Catholic Association will lead the prayers.

There will be reflections from local resident Delia Gilham, who was 17 at the time of Queen Elizabeth II ascending to the throne, and Queen Mary’s College students Ffion Timmins and Arran Topham will give a tribute from a younger person’s perspective.

The Rt Hon Dame Maria Miller DBE MP will read a poem and Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire Lady Portal MBE DL (Louisa) will deliver a reading.

There will be hymns and an anthem sung by the St Michael’s and All Saints’ choirs.

St Michael’s Church has a poignant link to the reign of the late Queen as a section of the hangings made for Westminster Abbey for Her Majesty The Queen’s Coronation have been made into an altar fall. This will be on display at the church at the Civic Service.