CAPTION: The toddler group at St Andrew's Church, Ashburton, held a Jubilee Party, complete with bunting made by the children (Photo: Cassie Long)

Devon’s Churches Prepare to Celebrate HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Posted: 31st May, 2022

From village greens to city centres, churches across Devon are planning services and community events to celebrate HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Bells will be rung across the county at 1130 on Friday 3 June to coincide with the Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral.

St Andrew’s Church in Ashburton is one of a number holding a Jubilee-themed flower festival.

And on Sunday 5 June hundreds of Jubilee balloons will be released inside the church during a special Jubilee service, followed by a drinks reception for the community afterwards in the churchyard.

People of all ages are taking part in the Jubilee

The church toddler group also had a Jubilee party with red, white and blue finger-print bunting made by the children.

Thorverton parish church is holding a 70 Years of Weddings festival, with a display of wedding dresses, flowers and photos inside the church and strawberries, shortbread and cream served in the churchyard on Sunday 5 June.

St Andrew’s Church, Tiverton, will be holding an outdoor Jubilee service with a tree planting ceremony and afternoon tea.

“The Queen has given a lifetime of service to our nation, and I feel profoundly grateful for the personal faith she has witnessed so clearly throughout her reign.” Rev’d Nigel Guthrie, Chaplain to the Queen

Ide parish church, near Exeter, has a family Jubilee trail through the churchyard featuring one of the Queen’s corgis as a guide.

St Andrew’s Church, Sampford Courtenay, is holding a service of celebration on Sunday 5 June that will include hymns and music from the Queen’s Coronation service at Westminster Abbey, with trumpeters accompanying the church choir.  The refreshments afterwards will include a toast to the Queen.

Children from Manadon Vale Primary School have created a ’70 pieces of art’ exhibition in Crownhill church

At the Church of the Ascension in Crownhill, Plymouth, there is an exhibition ’70 paintings for 70 years’ by children from nearby Manadon Vale Primary School.

Julie Phillips, the Churchwarden, said “We are very keen to engage with the wider community and rebuild relationships which fell by the wayside due to the pandemic.

“The Jubilee seemed the ideal opportunity to approach the primary school who were delighted to provide 70 pieces of art and bunting to decorate the Church, some of the children came to the church to make their display and it is stunning.”

On Saturday 4 June the church is hosting a Jubilee Afternoon Tea with people invited from the local area.

St Andrew’s Church, Exwick, is taking part in a large community Jubilee celebration by providing a barbeque, drinks and cake stall.

Churches will be holding special services during the Jubilee weekend

At St John’s Church, Bishopsteignton, there will be  homemade cakes, coffee, live music and children’s craft on Friday 3 June from 1030 to 1230.

St Simon’s Church, Mount Gould, Plymouth, will be holding a community picnic in its garden on Sunday 5 June at 1230.

Rev’d Nigel Guthrie, from St David’s Exeter, is a Chaplain to the Queen and said: “It is wonderful to celebrate this unique Jubilee for Her Majesty the Queen. She has given a lifetime of service to our nation, and I feel profoundly grateful for the personal faith she has witnessed so clearly throughout her reign.

“It is a faith which is evident in the spirit of service which characterises her daily work. Her example has inspired many people of different generations to serve their communities and to persevere in their own faith through times of joy and sorrow.”

There will be a Platinum Jubilee Evensong and Reception at Exeter Cathedral at 4pm on Saturday June 4.

The service will be led by the Very Rev’d Jonathan Greener, Dean of Exeter, and include a sermon by the Bishop of Exeter, as well as music by the cathedral’s St Peter’s Singers Choir. Also present will be David Fursdon, Lord Lieutenant of Devon.

The Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Rev’d Robert Atwell, said “By custom, we call a 70th anniversary a ‘platinum’ anniversary and such a noble designation is certainly worthy of the reign of Her Majesty the Queen. Her constancy in times of pressure and difficulty, as well as in times of joy, has been exemplary. Public service, duty and a devout Christian faith continue to be hallmarks of Queen Elizabeth’s reign. Her trust in Jesus Christ is central to her life.

As we mark the Queen’s Jubilee, let us pray for grace to build communities of trust, service and fairness worthy not only of our Queen but of the God who in Jesus Christ promises us the gift of abundant life.”

 

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