200 seats available at service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving for Her Majesty The Queen

On the eve of the state funeral, people of all faiths and none are invited to attend Leicestershire's Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Two hundred seats have been made available for residents of Leicester and Leicestershire at this special service at St James the Greater Church, Leicester, on Sunday 18 September at 5.30pm.

The service has been coordinated by the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Leicester Cathedral and the Bishop of Leicester, with the city and county councils, as part of a series of events during the period of national mourning.

The service will be led by the Dean of Leicester, with readings and prayers, as well as music from the Choirs of Leicester Cathedral. The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow will give the address.

Books of Condolence will be brought forward during the service representing the heartfelt prayers and messages of people across Leicester and Leicestershire.

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Mike Kapur OBE, said: "This very special service is open to anyone from all of our communities across the city and county regardless of faith or background. We hope people will feel able to come and share a moment of collective reflection as we all prepare for the state funeral the next day."

Members of the public can attend the service on a first come, first seated basis. The church doors will be open from 4.30pm and everyone must be seated by 5.10pm as there will be processions of civic dignitaries and guests before the service starts.

The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, said: "Finding ways to express our shared grief and sorrow is so important. After all that we have been through with the pandemic, this is a moment for the communities of Leicester and Leicestershire to come together and support one another. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a great unifier and so we gather to give thanks for her life, and to pray for our new King that he too may provide real leadership in our time of need."

The service will also be livestreamed on the Leicester Cathedral Youtube channel.