As church bells tolled across the nation, communities were able to come together in grief and prayer to watch the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
In Richmond, St Mary’s Church began screening the build-up to the service at 9am.
Small tables set up at the rear of the church welcomed visitors with their pretty tablecloths, flowers and biscuits – ones from a fancy selection box by the looks – and a large table manned by Church Council and Mothers’ Union members was ready to serve tea and coffee.
A large screen, set up close to the alter, had started showing dignitaries take their places in Westminster Abbey at 9am, and people were already taking seats inside St Mary’s Church to watch.
Read more: Who are the coffin bearers at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral?
Reverend Paul Sunderland, Curate of St Mary’s Church, said plans had confidentially been in place for a long time.
“We are thankful to be blessed with such a large space, as well as a state-of-the-art system to screen the funeral," he said.
"It just seemed right to be able to offer the space up for the whole community, not just our church community.”
The bells of St Mary’s began to ring at 10am, and would carry on for the hour before the service began at 11am.
Residents from Richmond’s Nightingale Hall nursing home would also be arriving at 10am to watch the service, and be able to write in the Book of Condolences.
Rev Sunderland said: “It is important for us to be here to allow people to be together, and also if they need support through prayer.
"It has been a tough few years for a lot of families, and this may bring back memories of their own loved ones who have passed away.”
Susan Scrafton, Parochial Church Council and Mothers’ Union member, said she always been a royalist, as had her parents and grandparents before her.
She said: “My grandmother would tell me she would never go to bed without first standing to the National Anthem, which would come on every night when television services ended, and the screen would be reduced until it just showed a picture of the Queen.
“I have seen the Queen a few times, but the time that sticks in my mind the most is when I had my first-born child still in his pram.
"We lived in Catterick Village and the Queen was visiting Catterick Camp.
"I knew what time she was due to leave via RAF Catterick, so I went with my baby in his pram to wait at a corner for her to pass.
"I was the only one there, and when she did, the car slowed and she leaned forward and waved. I could have wept!”
Other mourners attending the screening of the funeral were a group of friends visiting Richmond for the week from south Manchester.
Sue said: “We haven’t all been together since the end of the pandemic, and when we realised the Queen’s funeral would take place while we were here, we knew we wanted to watch together.
"It just seemed even more fitting to watch from the church – we feel like we can be part of the occasion.”
Friends Val Worley and Iris Eckersley sat together to watch the funeral – but by happy coincidence.
Val said: “We didn’t know we would both be here, but I’m so glad we can sit together.
"I feel emotional already.
"It is nice to be able to watch from St Mary’s Church, because the Queen was the head of the Church of England so it just seems right.”
Iris said: “It is good to be here to pay our respects.
"I came in here too the day she died.
"I have brought some cards written by a friend who was not able to be here today for the condolence book.”
Read next:
- How much is Queen Elizabeth II's crown worth as the UK mourns her loss?
- Queen's funeral: Updates as North East says farewell to Queen Elizabeth II
- 49 pictures from across the North East as region marks the Queen's funeral
If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here