Church of England has released a list of rules for parishes as the country mourns the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

During this time of national mourning for Queen Elizabeth II, the Church of England has published a list of rules for parishes.

To help its parishes “play a significant role in the life of the nation” during the national time of grief following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the Church of England has prepared instructions.

The Church of England clarified on Friday that its counsel to parishes following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, at the age of 96 at her Scottish vacation residence of Balmoral Castle, is not binding but should be taken as general advise for the coming days.

It is recommended that local churches have a hybrid or online service for reflection or an informal time of prayer “as soon as it is practical,” and that “books of condolence” be made available both physically and electronically until the day after the funeral.

The queen, who presided over the Church of England during her reign, will be laid to rest in Westminster Abbey at 11 a.m.
The Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal, allegedly made a statement on the matter on September 19.

It took six hours to drive the queen’s oak coffin from the Ballroom of Balmoral Castle in Scotland to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, the formal abode of the British monarch in Scotland, where it arrived on Sunday morning, according to BBC.

It will be carefully driven through Aberdeen, Dundee, and Perth before arriving at the palace, where it will remain in the Throne Room until Monday afternoon.
Later, the casket will be carried in procession by King Charles III and other royal family members to St. Giles’ Cathedral, where a service will be held, and where it will remain on display until Tuesday, according to BBC.

Finally, the casket will be flown back to London, where the public will have four days to pay their respects while the late queen lies in state in Westminster Hall before her funeral.

Worship services should continue as usual up until the Sunday before the funeral, although parishes will be provided with specific material that can be used to supplement existing forms of service or to arrange official commemorative services if desired.

The CofE will give a sample order of service and extra tools to parishes who opt to have a hybrid or online local church service the evening before the funeral. This Sunday is the day before the funeral.

Additionally, churches should ring their bells for the hour previous to the time of the burial service, which will be declared later, as per a request from the royal household, or the collective departments that support members of the royal family.

In spite of the national period of mourning, “weddings, funerals, and baptisms may continue as scheduled,” the advice states.
The clergy should confirm with the event organizers that this is a good time for them.
Reviewing the events scheduled for the day of the funeral requires special consideration.

Cambridge University Press, the King’s Printer, has offered mourning service formats in their publications.

The Third King Charles

One of the prayers has been updated to include the king:

Prayer for King Charles II of England: “Almighty God, whose kingdom is eternal and whose power is infinite: Have mercy upon the whole Church; and so rule the heart of thy chosen servant Charles, our king and governor, that he, knowing whose minister he is, may above all things seek thy honor and glory; and that we, and all his subjects, duly considering whose authority he hath, may faithfully serve, honor, and humbly obey him, in
Amen.”

On Saturday morning in St. James’s Palace in London, Charles III was formally proclaimed king by the Accession Council.
In his acceptance address, he declared, “I am keenly aware of this tremendous legacy and of the obligations and weighty responsibilities of sovereignty which have now passed to me.”

The guidelines include a prayer that is to be said during a Holy Communion ceremony during a time of sadness.

God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who live and reign with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end, grant us with thy servant QUEEN ELIZABETH and all the faithful departed the sure benefits of thy Son’s saving passion and glorious resurrection; that in the last day, when all things are gathered up in Christ, we may with them enjoy the fullness of thy promises; through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord.

Collective worship is recommended as a way for students to “remember the life of Her Majesty the Queen and pray for the rest of the royal family at this time,” according to the guidelines.