Primus to read Gospel at Thanksgiving Service

A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Her Majesty The Queen takes place at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh today, from 3pm.

Ahead of the service, Her Majesty’s coffin will be borne in procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral.

Bishop Mark Strange, Primus of the Episcopal Church, will be part of the coffin procession into the cathedral, alongside the Most Rev Leo Cushley, Roman Catholic Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh.

During the service, there will be readings by the First Minister and the Archbishop, and the singing of Psalm 23 by all, after which the Primus will read the Gospel (St John 14: 1-4, 6, 27) followed by a homily delivered by the Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

As well as being televised live, the service can be followed here on the Royal Family channel on YouTube, which goes live at 2.55pm.

The Order of Service can be viewed here.

After the service ends, Her Majesty The Queen’s Lying at Rest at St Giles’ opens to the public at around 5:30pm and is planned to continue until around 3pm on Tuesday 13 September.

Anyone wishing to attend the Lying at Rest, should note that there will be a queue to enter. The queue may close early to ensure as many people as possible can enter St Giles’ Cathedral to pay their respects.

The queue will start at George Square Lane/North Meadow Walk in The Meadows. Further details are available here.