Many of our local Church of Ireland communities warmly celebrated the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II over the recent bank holiday weekend, opening their doors to friends, relatives and neighbours.
The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, the Most Revd John McDowell, attended the national Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral alongside fellow church leaders. St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, hosted a Service of Thanksgiving for the county at which the Rt Revd Lord Eames OM was the preacher.
The Church of Ireland in its daily prayers remembers Her Majesty, her family, and all in authority. Please see below for a selection of Platinum Jubilee stories.
Platinum Jubilee celebrations around Connor Diocese
What a busy and joyful few days it has been around the UK and the Commonwealth as people came together to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – and Connor Diocese was no exception! There were street parties, special services, lunches, barbecues, and more, as parishioners paid tribute to Her Majesty for her 70 years as monarch, and celebrated a lifetime of faith.
A ‘divine calling’ for the Queen
The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Rt Revd Andrew Forster, told the congregation at a Platinum Jubilee Service in St Columb’s Cathedral on Friday that if they are truly to honour Her Majesty the Queen – both her constancy and her service – then they would seek to follow her example and put their faith in “the great reconciler” Jesus Christ.
On the previous evening, the Vice Lord Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry, Mr Ian Crowe MBE DL, lit a beacon at the main gate of St Columb’s to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
At Belfast Cathedral
The city of Belfast’s Service of Thanksgiving at St Anne’s Cathedral was led by Dean Stephen Forde and attended by Bishops George Davison and David McClay and many guests.
Jubilee street party in Sydenham
Over 600 people of all ages joined together in celebration at a free community street party at St Brendan’s, Sydenham, that included lunch, tea and coffee, ice creams, slushies, crafts, music, fancy dress, soft play area and bouncy castles. A free book on the faith of the Queen was given out, the national anthem was sung and there was even a life–size cut out of Her Majesty for people to take photos with.
A Jubilee Tea for seventy!
Seventy people – seventy years! Belvoir Parish enjoyed a special Jubilee Afternoon Tea on Thursday, 2 June, where it had a seat at the table for 70 people – one for every year of the Queen’s reign. Someone quipped “We might have sneaked in a few extra guests for good measure!”
Service of Thanksgiving in Enniskillen
A Service of Thanksgiving for Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee took place in St Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen. The service was filled with music and tributes to Her Majesty. In his address, the Bishop of Clogher, the Rt Revd Dr Ian Ellis, described it as “a joyous occasion to celebrate a most significant landmark in the life of our nation: the Platinum Jubilee of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.”
A Royal Hillsborough Jubilee
The dedication of a new Standard for the Royal Hillsborough Branch of the Royal British Legion was the first of the special events involving Hillsborough Parish for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Read more Church of Ireland news here.