A Cathedral Jubilee near you … lighting up red, white and blue. A corgi trail and a Lego Queen.
Lincoln and Chelmsford cathedrals are lighting up red, white and blue, Winchester is live streaming St Paul’s historic Service of Thanksgiving and lighting up its nave in purple and gold, there’s a Corgi trail at Gloucester whose bellringers will ring out a Jubilee medley, Peterborough Cathedral has an exhibition of portraits of HM The Queen by local schoolchildren, and HRH the Princess Royal was at Ely last week to unveil a very special 5,000-year-old black oak table dedicated to HM The Queen for her Platinum Jubilee.
Just some of the ways you can celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee at a cathedral near you.
Chelmsford Cathedral has just put the finishing touches to their own Buckingham Palace, made entirely of recycled materials, with a call out for children to create Jubilee themed Lego creations. There’s an exhibition of photos and anecdotes from the Queen’s visit back in 2014 and Chelmsford Cathedral will be lit up red, white and blue for the next seven days.
St Paul’s, Salisbury, York, Ely, Peterborough, Rochester, Lichfield, Southwell, Bristol, Ripon and Derby cathedral all have Platinum Jubilee events – find out about them here.
Photos from HM The Queen’s visits to Peterborough Cathedral in 1975 and 1988, as well as portraits of Her Majesty created by children from two local primary schools are on display over the Platinum Jubilee Weekend. Pictured here from a visit in 1975.
Peterborough too is lighting up red, white and blue each evening, other events include a celebratory peal of bells, a Jubilee picnic and a special service of Choral Evensong on Sunday 5th June and the Cathedral will be open throughout the extended Bank Holiday offering Tower tours, Guided Highlights tours
For more information please visit www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk or email info@peterborough-cathedral.org.uk.
A 13m long table created from a 5,000-year-old fossilised black oak tree, discovered in the fens, has been unveiled in Ely Cathedral by HRH The Princess Royal to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The giant black oak tree was found in a field at Wissington Fen in 2012, the year of HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Since then, a team of privately funded specialist craftspeople have created this sculptured table from the 5000-year-old wood, preserving it in perpetuity for future generations to admire and use. It will be on display in Ely Cathedral until March 2023 before touring other venues.
The Dean of Ely, The Very Revd Mark Bonney said: “Ely Cathedral sits prominently in the Fen landscape, a landscape that five thousand years ago was dominated not by a Cathedral, but by the most magnificent oak trees.
“All that remains of these trees are pieces of Black Oak that Fen farmers find on a regular basis, though a piece as long as the Black Oak table, discovered ten years ago, is truly remarkable, and its transformation into a magnificent table, is a stunning piece of craftsmanship.
“We are delighted that such a noteworthy piece of craftsmanship should make its debut appearance in the Cathedral. The table has been dedicated to HM The Queen and we feel very honoured to be the first venue to host it, in this her Platinum Jubilee year”.
Please check their website for more details of Ely’s Platinum celebrations.
Gloucester Cathedral has planned a unique series of events to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. From Wednesday 1 June to Saturday 4 June, the Cathedral bells will be ringing out a patriotic Jubilee medley, inspired by BBC Radio 4’s ‘Round Britain’ medley which was played daily between 1973-2006.
There’s a family trail featuring The Queen’s beloved Corgis, craft sessions to make crowns and bunting and much more, and a family Jubilee Service on Wednesday 1 June will be followed by a ‘Teddy Bears’ Picnic’ on the Cathedral Green.
There is a Royal Connections guided tour with the chance to glimpse inside the Cathedral’s medieval library and see first-hand items with a royal link. And the celebrations will conclude with a Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving on Monday 6 June at 5.30pm. All are welcome.
Interim Dean of Gloucester, Canon Andrew Braddock, said: “Her Majesty The Queen has, throughout her life, given us an extraordinary example of service, duty and faith. In celebration of The Queen’s reign, Gloucester Cathedral is delighted to be holding a number of exciting events, culminating in the special Service of Thanksgiving on Monday 6 June.
Further details about all these events can be found on the Cathedral website (gloucestercathedral.org.uk/whats-on), and social media pages.
Winchester Cathedral is live streaming St Paul’s historic Service of Thanksgiving for The Queen’s reign on Friday 3rd June. The Service will include bible readings, anthems, prayers and congregational hymns, expressing thankfulness for The Queen’s reign, faith and service; the desire to foster unity and peace amongst all peoples; and commitment to care for God’s creation.
There are Royal Jubilee tours over the weekend, and a range of family-friendly Jubilee themed activities.
On Sunday 5 July, Winchester is hosting Open Cathedral from 12.30 pm following its Festal Eucharist service at 11 am. Open Cathedral will see the nave lit up with purple and gold coloured lights and popular hymns and royal ecclesiastical music playing throughout. The ‘Royal Blood’ & ‘Curious Crowns’ family trails will be available as well as Jubilee themed activities. And on 14 June, Alastair Bruce, a royal, constitutional and religious commentator, joins Winchester Cathedral to discuss the crown and the spiritual symbolism of duty.
For more and how to book tickets here https://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/event/platinum-jubilee-celebrations/
Do remember to check individual cathedral’s websites for latest up to date information about events over the Jubilee weekend.
