The Bishop of Lancaster has spoken of the opportunities to meet, share and pray with others in our churches across Lancashire, over the weekend and into next week, as we collectively mourn Her Late Majesty, The Duke of Lancaster.  

• Visit this page on this website for information, resources for parishes and online memorial books. 

Speaking today, in the latest video issued by the Diocese since the death of The Queen, Rt Rev. Dr Jill Duff said: “In the coming days if you are feeling the need to talk, to pray, just to be with someone, then many of our churches will be open, not just on Sunday but at other times too. I pray you will encounter the peace of Jesus.”  

• If you want to find your nearest church, then visit www.achurchnearyou.com  

FULL PASTORAL STATEMENT 

King Charles III said about his dear mother, Her Late Majesty, the Duke of Lancaster: “I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.” 

We enter a period of mourning as a nation leading up to her funeral. 

Grief for our beloved Queen.  

Reminder of our own grief for those we have loved and lost.  

The reminders are everywhere – on our stamps, the notes in our wallets, the coins in our purses. She has been the fixed head in the life of our nation for more than 70 years. A model of Christian service and faith. As a young queen, she once said: “I can’t be a king who can lead you into battle, but I can give you my heart.” 

The Platinum Jubilee was a beautiful celebration of how she had well and truly captured our hearts. The pageantry of the Trooping of the Colour; the flypast of Lancaster bombers; the beacons lit across the Commonwealth; tea with Paddington; the party in Mall.  

Parties and pageantry across our County of Lancashire. Communities of joy. 

I noticed when people spoke about her, they’d often speak in the same way you’d speak about Jesus. ‘She’s our rock, our stay, she’s always been there for us’ they would say. I think that’s because she carried Jesus. She carried His Shepherd’s heart for our nation. 

When Jesus saw the crowds, his heart was filled with compassion because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted. He draws close where He is wanted. Where He is invited. 

I am praying a visitation of the Holy Spirit on our County and our nation. To round up the lost sheep and so hearts and eyes are opened to Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep. Who keeps us safe in His sheepfold. Who promises to lead us safely through the waters of grief and death. 

At times like this Jesus invites us to ‘Stand up and lift up your heads’ (Luke 21.28). To pray for heaven to break in. May we stand up with great faith, that through the clouds of pain and death, resurrection encounters with Jesus might break in for our nation, our Commonwealth our world. 

In the coming days if you are feeling the need to talk, to pray, just to be with someone, then many of our churches will be open, not just on Sunday but at other times too. I pray you will encounter the peace of Jesus.   

Many noticed the double rainbow over Buckingham Palace and over Windsor Castle around the time of The Queen’s death. 

Across Lancashire, in these clouds and storms of grief, may our churches, our schools, our chaplaincies ... our hearts be windows into the hope of Heaven, where there is a rainbow round the throne of God, and where one day, He will wipe every tear from our eyes. Where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Amen. 

• This latest Diocesan update follows the issuing of a statement by Acting Diocesan Bishop, Rt Rev. Philip North immediately on the death of Her Late Majesty and still available to watch on our YouTube channel here.