Choral Evensong: The Accession of Queen Elizabeth II

Details 

Peterborough Cathedral Choir will celebrate The Accession of Queen Elizabeth II with choral evensong.  This date marks 60 years since Queen Elizabeth succeeded the throne.  Accession describes the event of a new Sovereign taking the throne upon the death of the previous King or Queen.  A new Sovereign succeeds to the throne as soon as his or her predecessor dies and is at once proclaimed at an Accession Council in St James’s Palace.  

George VI died on 6th February 1952 at Sandringham and was buried at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on 15th February 1952, following a State Funeral. 

Princess Elizabeth heard the news of her father's death while staying at Treetops, a Game Lodge, in Kenya the same day. Although George VI had been ill, it was thought that his health was improving. He had been a heavy smoker and died of lung cancer not long after seeing off his daughter and son-in-law at London's Heathrow Airport as they embarked on their trip to Kenya. Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II, and The Duke of Edinburgh returned home to England on 7th February 1952, and the next day, 8th February, the Accession Council took place at St. James's Palace, attended by 175 Privy Councillors. The Queen read her Accession Declaration and signed two copies of the Accession document. 

Proclamations of the Queen's Accession took place in many parts of the UK, but none was more poignant than at Windsor Castle where the late King had spent so much of his time with his young children, and where local people now gathered to witness the ceremony under the Castle walls. 

2012 is Her Majesty’s 60^th anniversary and is celebrated with The Diamond Jubilee. 

This special evensong will contain the following music; 

We wait for thy loving kindness (McKie)             Responses Smith (Accession)

Collegium Regale (Wood)                                              Psalms 101, 121

Ave Regina caelorium (McDowall)                                  Hymns 493, 490

The following readings will be made; 

Joshua 1: 1 – 19

Romans 13: 1 - 10 

When & where 

Monday 6th February, 5.30pm.

Peterborough Cathedral.  

Entry 

All welcome - no ticket required.