The state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, will take place on Monday at Westminster Abbey in London. The state funeral follows 10 days of national mourning for the Queen and is expected to be the largest gathering of world leaders in years. The Queen, who died on September 8 at Scotland’s Balmoral Castle aged 96, will be laid to rest in a private family ceremony on Monday evening at Windsor Castle after the state funeral. The following is the document released on Sunday evening by Buckingham Palace detailing the Queen’s funeral. The service is conducted by the Reverend Dr David Hoyle MBE, Dean of Westminster. The service is sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, (Joseph McHardy, Director of Music) conducted by James O’Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers, Westminster Abbey. The State Trumpets of the Household Cavalry are led by Trumpet Major Julian Sandford. The Household Division Bands Fanfare Group is led by Lieutenant Colonel David Barringer MBE, Commander, Household Division Bands. The organ is played by Peter Holder, Sub-Organist, Westminster Abbey. —- Before the service, the tenor bell is rung every minute for 96 minutes, reflecting the years of Queen Elizabeth II’s life. Members of foreign royal families, heads of state and overseas government representatives are received at the Great West Door by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster and shown to their seats in the Lantern. Everyone remains seated.
MUSIC BEFORE THE SERVICE
Matthew Jorysz, Assistant Organist, Westminster Abbey, plays: Fantasy in four parts Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625) Organist of Westminster Abbey 1623–25 Romance (Symphony No. 5 in D) Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958) arranged by Robert Quinney (b. 1976) Leave My House Peter Maxwell Davies (1934–2016) Meditation on “Brother James’s Air” Harold Darke (1888–1976) Prelude to ‘Ecce jam noctis’ Op 157 no 3 Healey Willan (1880–1968) Psalm Prelude Set 1 no 2 Herbert Howells (1892–1983) In the Country Op 194 no 2 Charles Villiers Stanford (1852–1924) Fantasy on “O Paradise” Malcolm Williamson (1931–2003) Elegy Op 58 Edward Elgar (1857–1934) arranged by Matthew Jorysz (born 1992) The Sub-Organist plays: Andante espressivo (Sonata in G Op 28) Edward Elgar Sospiri Op 70 Edward Elgar arranged by Peter Holder (born 1990) —– The Procession of Religious Representatives moves to places in the Temple and the Sanctuary. Everyone remains seated. The members of the royal family are received at the Great West Door by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster and shown to their seats in the Lantern. Everyone remains seated. The Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, advance to positions in the Temple and the Choir. Everyone remains seated.
ARRANGEMENT OF SERVICES
Everyone stands as the casket procession enters the Abbey. The Westminster Abbey Choir sings as the coffin procession moves through the Abbey:
THE PROPOSALS
I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he be dead, yet shall he live: and he that liveth and believeth in me shall never die. John 11. 25–26 I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the last day upon the earth: and though after the worms of my skin destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God: Whom mine own eyes shall see lo and behold, and no more. Job 19. 25–27 We brought nothing into this world and it is certain that we can do nothing. The Lord gave, and the Lord took away. blessed be the name of the Lord. William Croft (1678–1727) 1 Timothy 6.7, Job 1.21 The Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, sing: You know, Lord, the secrets of our hearts. Do not close your merciful ears to our prayer. but save us, Lord most holy, God the mighty, holy and most merciful Saviour, worthy judge eternal, do not let us, at the last hour, for any pain of death, fall from you. Amen. Henry Purcell (1659–95) The Book of Common Prayer 1549 Organist of Westminster Abbey 1679–95 I heard a voice from heaven saying to me: Write, from now on blessed are the dead who die in the Lord: so says the Spirit. for they rest from their labors. Amen. William Croft Revelation 14:13 Everyone stands up. The Reverend Dr David Hoyle MBE, Dean of Westminster, gives:
THE TENDER
With sadness but also deep thanksgiving we come to this House of God, to a place of prayer, to a church where memory and hope are sacred tasks. Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we gather from all the nation, from the Commonwealth and from the nations of the world, to mourn our loss, to remember her long life of selfless service, and with sure assurance to commit her to mercy of God our creator and redeemer. We remember with gratitude her steadfast commitment to a high calling for so many years as Queen and Head of the Commonwealth. We remember with admiration her lifelong sense of duty and devotion to her people. With thanksgiving we glorify God for the steadfast example of Christian faith and devotion. We fondly remember her love for her family and her commitment to the causes she held dear. Now, in silence, let us remember in our hearts and minds the many reasons for our thanksgiving, let us pray for all the members of her family, and let us praise Queen Elizabeth in the care and preservation of almighty God. There is a brief silence. O merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who art the resurrection and the life. in whom he that believeth shall live, though he die. And whoever lives and believes in him will never die. who taught us, by his holy Apostle Saint Paul, not to grieve, as men without hope, for those who sleep in him: We humbly beseech you, Father, to raise us from the death of sin to the life of righteousness. ; that, when we depart from this life, we may rest in him, as our hope is that of our sister. And that, in the general Resurrection of the last day, we may find ourselves acceptable in your sight. and receive this blessing, which your beloved Son will then say to all those who love and fear you, saying: Come, blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. Grant this, we beseech you, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, our mediator and redeemer. Amen. Everyone sings: The day you gave, Lord, is over, Darkness falls at your command. to you our morning hymns ascended, your praise shall sanctify our rest. We thank you that your Church does not sleep, while the earth rolls forward into the light, to all the world that keeps her watch, and he rests not now day or night. As in every continent and island the dawn leads to another day, the voice of prayer is never silent, nor dies the stem of praise. The sun that calls us to rest wakes up our brothers under the western sky, and hour after hour they make fresh lips your wondrous works are heard on high. So be it, Lord. your throne ever Like the proud empires of earth, pass away. your kingdom stands and grows forever, until all thy creatures have thy power. St Clement John Ellerton (1826–93) Clement Scholefield (1839–1904) adapted by James O’Donnell (born 1961) Everyone sits down. The Right Honorable The Baroness of Asthal KC, Secretary General of the Commonwealth, reads:
THE FIRST LESSON
Now Christ rose from the dead and became the firstfruits of those who fell asleep. For since death came from man, from man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his turn: Christ the first fruits. then those who are Christ’s at his coming. Then comes the end, when he will have handed over the kingdom to God, the Father. when he shall have overthrown all power and all authority and power. For he must reign, until he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. When therefore this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality, then shall be fulfilled the saying which is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin. and the power of sin is the law. But we thank God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15: 20–26, 53–end Thank God. Everyone remains seated. The choir sings:
THE PSALM
As the olive tree longs for the rivers of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, yea, even for the living God: when shall I come to appear before the presence of God? My tears have been my meat day and night: while daily they say to me: Where is your God now? Now, when I think of it, I pour out my heart alone; for I went with the multitude and brought them out to the house of God. With the voice of praise and thanksgiving: among them that keep the day of sanctification. Why art thou so full of gravity, my soul: and why art thou so troubled within me? Put your trust in God: for I will thank him yet for the help of his face. Judith Weir CBE (b 1954) Psalm 42:1–7 composed for this Service The Right Honorable Elizabeth Truss MP, Prime Minister…
