A SPECIAL service held on Friday evening at Carlisle Cathedral has begun Cumbria’s celebrations of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The service of Choral Evensong was led by the Very Rev’d Mark Boyling, Dean of Carlisle with the Rt Rev’d James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle preaching.

In the presence of Mrs Claire Hensman, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria, guests representing communities and representatives from Her Majesty’s patronages and interests from across the county, and members of the public, the service offered thanksgiving and prayers for the Queen’s 70 extraordinary years of service to the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.

Mrs Hensman said: “At the beginning of this week, where communities across the county will mark Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, it has been a delight to share in this service of thanksgiving in the county’s Cathedral.

“Working with the Cathedral, and the Cathedral Development Trust, it has been wonderful to be able to welcome representatives from across Cumbria to salute and celebrate our longest serving monarch.”

At the service the Cathedral Choir sang Sir Hubert Parry’s great coronation Anthem ‘I was glad’ as well as a new piece ‘In Our Service’ commissioned for the Jubilee by the Royal School of Church Music and written by Thomas Hewitt Jones.

Reflecting on the service, The Dean of Carlisle said: “No doubt there will be all sorts of local events across the County to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen, but it was wonderful to bring people together from across Cumbria to begin the celebrations in the Cathedral.”

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