Following the official announcement this evening (8th September) of the very sad news of the death this afternoon of our Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who has served our United Kingdom and Commonwealth with over 70 years of faithful, dedicated service as our Queen during her amazing 96 year long life, all of us will wish to honour her life and mourn her passing in ways which feel appropriate to each of us in our village community. The Union Jack flag is now at half-mast on the church tower, and the tower floodlights are on until midnight tonight, as an initial sign of our grief as a nation, and our gratitude for a life which has touched countless millions of people over the years of her faithful service to God, Country, and the international community as well.

In addition to being open and available each day of the week (as it normally is), All Saints Parish Church will be available to all who may wish to call in to offer prayers for the life and service of our Queen (as well as our prayers for her successor, King Charles III and all the members of the Royal Family at this time of great personal loss), to write a message of consolation/thanksgiving to contribute to our own informal village ‘Book of Remembrance’, and – for any who wish - to lay flowers by the Lady Chapel altar (on the left side of the church). Further information regarding any special services to remember and celebrate our Queen and her extraordinary life, service and Christian witness will be communicated to the community via social media, notice boards, etc. as soon as it becomes available.

With the assurance of my prayers for our Royal Family, and for all of our village community at this time –

Vicar John Allan