The Queen’s state funeral will be shown on big screens in Manchester city centre while a number of commemorative events and services are also being held across the region ahead of the solemn occasion. The royal farewell will include a service at Westminster Abbey and a cortege and military procession across London before a final family ceremony at a chapel in Windsor Castle.
Crowds are expected to gather along The Mall to watch the procession, while heads of state from across the world will be flying in to remember the life and service of Queen Elizabeth II. The service is expected to be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and begins at 11am on Monday.
Below is how each borough in Greater Manchester will be paying its final respects to the country’s longest-reigning monarch.
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BOLTON
A civic memorial service is to be held at Bolton Parish Church on Sunday, September 18 at 6.30pm. Tickets are not required for the event and everyone is welcome.
BURY
People have the chance to come together and mourn the passing of the Queen at a multi-faith civic memorial service. It will be held at Bury Parish Church, The Rock on Sunday at 6.30pm and be followed by a national one-minute silence at 8pm.
The service, led by the Revd Julian Heaton, the Rector of Bury, will remember and celebrate the Queen’s life and commemorate her passing. All residents welcome to come along and show their respects but places will be limited. The occasion will also be live streamed for free via the council website.
MANCHESTER
Big screens in the city centre will show coverage of the state funeral from 9am on Monday in the following locations.
- Cathedral Gardens
- Exchange Square
- Inside Manchester Cathedral
Each site will be open to the public without the need for tickets. There will be bag searches in operation and access to the squares will be limited when they reach capacity. People will be able to move in and out of the big screen areas through the day.
A national two minute silence will also be observed following the state funeral. The Library, the Tower of Light and Manchester Cathedral will all also be lit purple to mark the day.
Manchester Cathedral will also hold a service of thanksgiving for the life of the Queen at Sunday 2.30pm on Sunday, the day before the state funeral. The city will also be observing the National Moment of Reflection on Sunday evening.
A maroon will be set off from Central Library at 8pm to mark the start and again at the end of the one minute silence. The Lord Mayor and others will mark the National Moment of Reflection in St Ann’s Square.
The Bishop of Manchester will introduce the silence. The Dean and inter-faith colleagues will join the Lord Mayor in St Ann's Square. People are encouraged to mark the silence privately at home, with friends and family, out on doorsteps or the street with neighbours, or at locally arranged community events and vigils.
Community groups, clubs and other organisations across the country are encouraged to take part and people overseas are also encouraged to participate. From Friday, Central Library will host a photo and video exhibition to commemorate the life of the late Queen and her trips to Greater Manchester.
The Metrolink service will be suspended in Exchange Square for the state funeral. Travel advice via Transport for Greater Manchester can be found here: tfgm.com/monday-19-september.
OLDHAM
People across Oldham are invited to a civic commemorative inter-faith church service on Sunday.The service, to be led by the Revd Canon Jean Hurlston, is open to people of all faiths and begins at Oldham Parish Church at 6pm.
The state funeral takes place on Monday, which has been declared a bank holiday, to enable people to watch and pay their respects. Residents will still be able to sign books of condolence that day at Oldham Civic Centre and Oldham Parish Church, where people may also lay floral tributes.
For more information on other arrangements for the weekend and Bank Holiday, visit the council’s website here
ROCHDALE
A civic church service in honour of the Queen is being held on Sunday, at St Chad’s Church in Rochdale.The Mayor, Councillor Ali Ahmed, and other local dignitaries will attend to pay their respects.
The service will begin at 6.30pm and is open to the public to attend. People should arrive no later than 6.15pm. The service will include the national minute’s silence, which is being observed at 8pm.
Residents are being asked to wear suitable clothing that reflects the mood of the occasion and the national mourning period. The dress code for the service is a dark lounge suit, dress or jacket and trousers. Commemorative services are also being held on Sunday at the following locations:-
St Luke’s Church, Heywood, starting at 6pm.
Holy Trinity Church, Church Street, Littleborough, starting at 6pm.
St Leonard’s Parish Church, Middleton, starting at 6pm.
Further details about can be found on the council website at www.rochdale.gov.uk
SALFORD
A commemorative church service of memorial and thanksgiving will be held at St Peter’s Parish Church, Swinton, at 7pm on Sunday. The service will include the National Moment of Reflection which will be marked by a one-minute silence at 8pm to mourn the passing of the Queen and reflect on her life and legacy.
Led by Father Sheehy it will see invited guests and faith leaders from across the city come together to remember the late sovereign. Members of the public are also invited to the special service at the church on Chorley Road. Parking is available outside Swinton Gateway (payable) or at Salford Civic Centre car park off Partington Lane, Swinton.
Books of condolence will be open up to the funeral. People can also lay flowers on the lawns at Swinton Civic Centre.
STOCKPORT
A civic church service in memory of the Queen will be held at St Mary’s in the Marketplace at 6.30pm on Sunday. All are welcome to attend. There will also be a National Moment of Reflection at 8pm. Everyone is encouraged to mark this minute however feels right to them, for example by observing a silence, applauding or singing the national anthem.
At the end of the funeral service on Monday there will be a two-minute silence at approximately 11.54am. This will be observed across the UK, and local leaders are encouraging residents to take part. Further information about the arrangements for Bank Holiday Monday can be found on the council website, here.
TAMESIDE
People are invited to join Area Dean, Rev. Daniel Ramble who is leading an Interfaith memorial service at 6pm on Sunday. Rev. Ramble will be joined at St John the Evangelist, in Ashton, by Tameside Civic Mayor, Coun Mike Glover and other local officials.
Residents are also encouraged to take part in a minute’s silence to mark the National Moment of Reflection to at 8pm on Sunday. The silence can be marked privately at home, with friends and family, out on doorsteps or the street with neighbours or at community vigils.
A further two-minute National Silence will be observed following the state funeral at approximately 11.54am on Monday. Members of the public are welcome to join Tameside Civic Mayor Coun Mike Glover outside Dukinfield Town Hall for this act of remembrance.
More than 300 people of all ages gathered outside Dukinfield Town Hall on Sunday. Tameside Council has announced plans for its services on Monday 19 September – the day of the Queen’s funeral – which has been declared a national Bank Holiday.
To contact the council in an emergency on the Bank Holiday call 0161 342 2222.
TRAFFORD
There will be special services in churches across Trafford on Sunday evening in honour of the Queen. The services of commemoration will give thanks for the late monarch’s life and dedication to her country.
There will also be special prayers for the Queen and for King Charles as he begins his reign. A special Civic Service will also be held at St Paul’s Church, Sale, at 6pm. Trafford Mayor Coun Chris Boyes will be in attendance, along with MPs, councillors, members of the Armed Services, faith leaders, community leaders and Dr Faye Bruce, Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester.
For details of your nearest church visit www.achurchnearyou.com.
WIGAN
Civic commemoration services are taking place across the borough over the upcoming weekend and residents are encouraged to take part in the National Moment of Reflection on Sunday. This includes a special civic commemoration service marking the death of the Queen that will take place at Wigan Parish Church at 6pm on Sunday.
Books of condolence will remain at Wigan Town Hall and Leigh Town Hall each weekday between 9am and 5pm, moving to Wigan Library and Leigh Library on Saturday between 9am and 2pm. The National Moment of Reflection will take place at 8pm on Sunday, the night before the state funeral, and be marked by a one-minute silence.
A national two-minute silence will also take place on the Monday as part of the funeral proceedings.Residents are invited to mark the minute’s silence either privately, on their doorsteps or with family, friends, and their local community.
Wigan and Leigh town halls will continue to be lit up through the mourning period.The Mayor of Wigan Borough, Councillor Marie Morgan, will be attending civic commemoration services in Wigan, Leigh and Manchester.
Across the nation, people are also invited to send a message of condolence to the Royal Family here.
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