Cathedral to hold special service for Prince Philip
A SPECIAL memorial service for the Duke of Edinburgh will be held today at Exeter Cathedral, among other commemorative events at churches in Devon.
The service at the cathedral, ahead of the funeral of Prince Philip this Saturday, will be attended by numerous dignitaries and will be live-streamed to the public from 4.30pm.
Services, which are not open to the public, are also being held at St Andrew’s Church, Plymouth, at 3pm, and at St Paul’s Church, Torbay at 10am, and broadcast online.
ASPECIAL memorial service for the Duke of Edinburgh will be held today at Exeter Cathedral, among a number of commemorative events at churches across Devon.
The service at the cathedral, ahead of the funeral of Prince Philip this Saturday, will be attended by numerous dignitaries and will be livestreamed to the public.
Among those expected at the 4.30pm service are official representatives of the royal family, armed forces and civic leaders, including the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, the Lord Mayor of Exeter, High Sheriff of Devon, Commander of Lympstone’s Commando Training Centre, Captain of Dartmouth’s Britannia Royal Naval College, Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen, and council leaders.
Also attending will be two pupils from St Peter’s School, Exeter, who are currently participating in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.
The service is not open to the public, but will be broadcast live via the Cathedral’s Facebook page.
Led by the Bishop of Exeter, The Right Revd Robert Atwell, and the Dean of Exeter, The Very Revd Jonathan Greener, the service is the first major civic occasion to be held at the cathedral since lockdown, and will include music from the Choir of Exeter Cathedral.
Taking place just two days before the funeral, The Very Rev Jonathan Greener hopes that this afternoon’s service will provide a helpful focal point for remembering the Duke.
“Many people in Devon feel a particular affinity with Prince Philip – not least because of his burgeoning Naval career at Dartmouth, where he first met Princess Elizabeth,” he said.
“So it is important that we can have this special service as a shared time to remember the Duke of Edinburgh, reflect on his passing, and give thanks for an extraordinary life that has influenced countless others around the world.”
Although unable to extend an open invitation to the memorial service due to Covid safety regulations, Exeter Cathedral has extended its opening hours for this week, from 11am-5pm, and set aside a Covid-compliant space for anyone wishing to visit, remember and reflect on the life of Prince Philip. Last Saturday, it also joined churches across the country in tolling its bell 99 times – once for every year of the Duke’s life.
A Plymouth Unitary Authority service will also be held today at St Andrew’s Church, Plymouth, at 3pm, led by the Bishop of Plymouth, The Right Reverend Nick McKinnel. The service will be available to watch at 3pm on the Plymouth County Council Facebook page and YouTube channel.
And there will be a Torbay Unitary Authority service at St Paul’s Church, Preston at 10am where the Bishop of Crediton, the Right Reverend Jackie Searle will be preaching. The service will be livestreamed on the Torbay Council Facebook page.
Due to coronavirus restrictions these services in Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay will not be open to the public, but will be streamed online. For details visit the Diocese of Exeter website.