Full order of service for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey

The full order of service for The Queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey can be read in full here:

The service is conducted by The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle MBE, Dean of Westminster.

The service is sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, (Joseph McHardy, Director of Music) under the direction of James O’Donnell,

Organist and Master of the Choristers, Westminster Abbey.

The State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry are led by Trumpet Major Julian Sandford.

The Fanfare Team of the Household Division Bands is conducted by Lieutenant Colonel David Barringer MBE, Commanding Officer, Household Division Bands.

The organ is played by Peter Holder, Sub-Organist, Westminster Abbey.

Before the service, the tenor bell is tolled every minute for 96 minutes, reflecting the years of Queen Elizabeth II’s life.

Members of Foreign Royal Families, Heads of State, and Overseas Government Representatives are received at the Great West Door by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster and are conducted to their seats in the Lantern. All remain seated.

Music before the service:

Matthew Jorysz, assistant organist at Westminster Abbey, plays:

• Fantasia of four parts – Orlando Gibbons (1583 – 1625), Organist of Westminster Abbey 1623-25

• Romanza (Symphony no 5 in D) – Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958), arranged by Robert Quinney (b 1976)

• Reliqui domum meum – Peter Maxwell Davies (1934 – 2016)

• Meditation on “Brother James’s Air” – Harold Darke (1888-1976)

• Prelude on “Ecce jam noctis” Op 157 no 3 – Healey Willan (1880-1968)

• Psalm Prelude Set 1 no 2 – Herbert Howells (1892-1983)

• In the Country Op 194 no 2 – Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)

• Fantasy on “O Paradise” – Malcolm Williamson (1931-2003)

• Elegy Op 58 – Edward Elgar (1857-1934)m arranged by Matthew Jorysz (b 1992)

Sub-organist Peter Holder plays:

• Andante espressivo (Sonata in G Op 28) – Edward Elgar

• Sospiri Op 70 – Edward Elgar

Musicians

The choir of Westminster Abbey and the choir of the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, under the direction of James O’Donnell, organist and master of the choristers lead the singing at the service.

The State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry are led by Trumpet Major Julian Sandford, the Fanfare Team of the Household Division Bands is conducted by Lieutenant Colonel David Barringer MBE, Commanding Officer, Household Division Bands.

During the service the organ is played by Westminster Abbey’s sub-organist Peter Holder.

Order of Service

As the Procession of the Coffin moves through the Abbey, the Choir of Westminster Abbey sings:

I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. John 11: 25-26

I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. Job 19: 25-27

We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. 1 Timothy 6: 7; Job 1: 21, William Croft (1678-1727), Organist of Westminster Abbey 1708-27

The Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, sing:

Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not thy merciful ears unto our prayer; but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from thee. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer 1549, Henry Purcell (1659-95), Organist of Westminster Abbey 1679.

I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, From henceforth blessed are the dead which die in the Lord: even so saith the Spirit; for they rest from their labours. Amen. Revelation 14: 13, William Croft.

The bidding

All remain standing as the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle MBE, Dean of Westminster, gives the bidding:

In grief and also in profound thanksgiving we come to this House of God, to a place of prayer, to a church where remembrance and hope are sacred duties. Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we gather from across the nation, from the Commonwealth, and from the nations of the world, to mourn our loss, to remember her long life of selfless service, and in sure confidence to commit her to the mercy of God our maker and redeemer.

With gratitude we remember her unswerving commitment to a high calling over so many years as Queen and Head of the Commonwealth. With admiration we recall her life-long sense of duty and dedication to her people. With thanksgiving we praise God for her constant example of Christian faith and devotion. With affection we recall her love for her family and her commitment to the causes she held dear.

Now, in silence, let us in our hearts and minds recall our many reasons for thanksgiving, pray for all members of her family, and commend Queen Elizabeth to the care and keeping of almighty God.

A brief silence is kept.

Merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life; in whom whosoever believeth shall live, though he die; and whosoever liveth, and believeth in him, shall not die eternally; who hast taught us, by his holy Apostle Saint Paul, not to be sorry, as men without hope, for them that sleep in him:

We meekly beseech thee, O Father, to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness; that, when we shall depart this life, we may rest in him, as our hope is this our sister doth; and that, at the general Resurrection in the last day, we may be found acceptable in thy sight; and receive that blessing, which thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all that love and fear thee, saying, Come, ye blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.

Grant this, we beseech thee, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, our mediator and redeemer. Amen.

The Hymn

(All sing)

The First Lesson

All sit as the Right Honourable the Baroness Scotland of Asthal KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, reads:

Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15: 20-26, 53-end

Thanks be to God.

The psalm

All remain seated. The choir sings a specially commissioned piece composed by the Master of The King’s Music, Judith Weir:

Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks : so longeth my soul after thee, O God.

My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God : when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?

My tears have been my meat day and night : while they daily say unto me, Where is now thy God?

Now when I think thereupon, I pour out my heart by myself : for I went with the multitude, and brought them forth into the house of God;

In the voice of praise and thanksgiving : among such as keep holy-day.

Why art thou so full of heaviness, O my soul : and why art thou so disquieted within me?

Put thy trust in God : for I will yet give him thanks for the help of his countenance.

The second lesson

Prime Minister Liz Truss reads:

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. John 14: 1-9a

Thanks be to God.

The Hymn

(All sing) The Lord’s my Shepherd

The Sermon

The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan gives the sermon.

The anthem

All remain seated. The choir sings:

My soul, there is a country

Far beyond the stars,

Where stands a wingèd sentry

All skilful in the wars:

There above noise, and danger,

Sweet Peace sits crowned with smiles,

And One born in a manger

Commands the beauteous files.

He is thy gracious friend,

And (O my soul, awake!)

Did in pure love descend,

To die here for thy sake.

If thou canst get but thither,

There grows the flower of Peace,

The Rose that cannot wither,

Thy fortress, and thy ease.

Leave then thy foolish ranges,

For none can thee secure,

But One who never changes,

Thy God, thy Life, thy Cure

From Songs of Farewell Hubert Parry (1848-1918), Henry Vaughan (1621-95).

The prayers

The Reverend Mark Birch, Minor Canon and Precentor, leads:

In confidence and trust, let us pray to the Father.

All kneel or remain seated.

The Reverend Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, says:

Let us give thanks to God for Queen Elizabeth’s long life and reign, recalling with gratitude her gifts of wisdom, diligence, and service.

O God, from whom cometh everything that is upright and true: accept our thanks for the gifts of heart and mind that thou didst bestow upon thy daughter Elizabeth, and which she showed forth among us in her words and deeds; and grant that we may have grace to live our lives in accordance with thy will, to seek the good of others, and to remain faithful servants unto our lives’ end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ms Shermara Fletcher, Principal Officer for Pentecostal and Charismatic Relations, Churches Together in England, says:

Confident in God’s love and compassion, let us pray for all those whose hearts are heavy with grief and sorrow.

Almighty God, Father of all mercies and giver of all comfort: deal graciously, we pray thee, with those who mourn, that casting every care on thee, they may know the consolation of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, Bishop of London and Dean of His Majesty’s Chapels Royal, says:

Let us pray for His Majesty The King and all the Royal Family; that they may know the sustaining power of God’s love and the prayerful fellowship of God’s people.

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless our most gracious Sovereign Lord King Charles, Camilla The Queen Consort, William Prince of Wales, and all the Royal Family: endue them with thy Holy Spirit, enrich them with thy heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Reverend Canon Helen Cameron, Moderator of the Free Churches Group, says:

In recognition of Queen Elizabeth’s service to this United Kingdom, let us rejoice in her unstinting devotion to duty, her compassion for her subjects, and her counsel to her ministers; and we pray for the continued health and prosperity of this Nation.

Almighty God, whose will it is that all thy children should serve thee in serving one another: look with love, we pray thee, on this Nation. Grant to its citizens grace to work together with honest and faithful hearts, each caring for the good of all; that, seeking first thy kingdom and its righteousness, they may possess all things needful for their daily sustenance and the common good; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, says:

Let us give thanks for Queen Elizabeth’s commitment to the Commonwealth throughout her reign, for her service and dedication to its peoples, and for the rich bonds of unity and mutual support she sustained.

Almighty and everlasting God, hear our prayer for the Commonwealth, and grant it the guidance of thy wisdom. Inspire those in authority, that they may promote justice and the common good; give to all its citizens the spirit of mutual honour and respect; and grant to us all grace to strive for the establishment of righteousness and peace; for the honour of thy name. Amen.

The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, Primate of England and Metropolitan, says:

We give thanks to God for Queen Elizabeth’s loyalty to the faith she inherited through her baptism and confirmation, and affirmed at her coronation; for her unswerving devotion to the Gospel; and for her steadfast service as Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

Lord, we beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness; that through thy protection she may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in all good works, to the glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Precentor, Reverend Mark Birch, says:

Let us pray that we may be given grace to live as those who believe in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to eternal life.

Bring us, O Lord God, at our last awakening into the house and gate of heaven, to enter into that gate and dwell in that house, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; no noise nor silence, but one equal music; no fears nor hopes, but one equal possession; no ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity; in the habitation of thy glory and dominion, world without end. Amen. John Donne (1572-1631).

The choir sings:

O Taste and see how gracious the Lord is: blest is the man that trusteth in him. Ralph Vaughan composed for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 1953, Williams Psalm 34: 8.

The Precentor concludes:

In confidence and hope, let us pray to the Father in the words our Saviour taught us,

All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Hymn (all stand to sing)

Love divine, all loves excelling,

joy of heaven, to earth come down,

fix in us thy humble dwelling,

all thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesu, thou art all compassion,

pure unbounded love thou art;

visit us with thy salvation,

enter every trembling heart

Come, almighty to deliver,

let us all thy life receive;

suddenly return, and never,

never more thy temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing,

serve thee as thy hosts above,

pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,

glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation,

pure and spotless let us be;

let us see thy great salvation,

perfectly restored in thee,

changed from glory into glory

till in heaven we take our place,

till we cast our crowns before thee,

lost in wonder, love, and praise!

Blaenwern Charles Wesley (1707-88), William Rowlands (1860-1937), arranged by James O’Donnell.

The commendation

All remain standing as The Archbishop of Canterbury says:

Let us commend to the mercy of God, our maker and redeemer, the soul of Elizabeth, our late Queen.

Heavenly Father, King of kings, Lord and giver of life, who of thy grace in creation didst form mankind in thine own image, and in thy great love offerest us life eternal in Christ Jesus; claiming the promises of thy most blessed Son, we entrust the soul of Elizabeth, our sister here departed, to thy merciful keeping, in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, when Christ shall be all in all; who died and rose again to save us, and now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, in glory for ever. Amen.

Go forth, O Christian soul, from this world, in the name of God the Father almighty, who created thee; in the name of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who suffered for thee; in the name of the Holy Spirit, who was poured out upon thee and anointed thee. In communion with all the blessed saints, and aided by the angels and archangels and all the armies of the heavenly host, may thy portion this day be in peace, and thy dwelling in the heavenly Jerusalem. Amen.

The anthem

All remain standing. The choir sings:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Alleluia! Amen.

Sir James MacMillan CBE (b 1959) composed for this service, Romans 8: 35a, 38b-end

The blessing

The Dean pronounces the blessing:

God grant to the living grace; to the departed rest; to the Church, The King, the Commonwealth, and all people, peace and concord, and to us sinners, life everlasting; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

The blessing

The Dean pronounces the blessing:

The Last Post

All remain standing and silent as the Last Post is played.

Reveille

Silence is kept as trumpeters of the Household Cavalry sound the Reveille.

The national anthem

All sing:

God save our gracious King,

long live our noble King,

God save The King.

Send him victorious,

happy and glorious,

long to reign over us:

God save The King.

Thy choicest gifts in store

on him be pleased to pour,

long may he reign.

May he defend our laws,

and ever give us cause

to sing with heart and voice:

God save The King!

Arranged by Gordon Jacob (1895).

All remain standing as the Queen’s Piper, Warrant Officer Class 1 (Pipe Major) Paul Burns, plays “Sleep, dearie, sleep”.

All remain standing as the coffin and Processions leave the church.

The Sub-Organist plays Fantasia in C minor BWV 562 – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

The procession of the coffin

Ahead of the coffin will go:

Verger

Primatial Cross of York Primatial Cross of Canterbury

The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Stephen Cottrell Archbishop of York, Primate of England and Metropolitan

The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan

The Cross of Westminster and Lights

The Reverend Robert Latham Minor Canon and Sacrist

The Reverend Mark Birch Minor Canon and Precentor

Mr Paul Baumann CBE Receiver General

Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE High Bailiff of Westminster

Verger

The Venerable Tricia Hillas Canon Steward and Archdeacon of Westminster

The Reverend Dr James Hawkey Canon Theologian and Almoner

The Right Reverend Anthony Ball Canon of Westminster and Rector of St Margaret’s Church

The Reverend David Stanton Sub-Dean and Canon Treasurer

Dean’s Verger

The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle MBE Dean of Westminster

The Queen’s Coffin

The Queen Consort and the King

Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, The Princess Royal

The Duke of York

The Countess of Wessex and Forfar, The Earl of Wessex and Forfar

The Princess of Wales, The Prince of Wales

Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince George of Wales

The Duchess of Sussex, The Duke of Sussex

The Earl of Snowdon, Mr Peter Phillips

The Duke of Gloucester

Prince Michael of Kent, The Duke of Kent

Music after the service:

Allegro maestoso (Sonata in G Op 28) – Edward Elgar

Later in the afternoon, the bells of the Abbey are rung fully-muffled by the Westminster Abbey Company of Ringers in a peal of Stedman Caters, comprising 5096 changes.