Books of condolence opened and flags to fly at half-mast across the borough

Books of condolence have been opened at Rochdale Parish Church of St. Chad and council buildings; Number One Riverside in Rochdale, Middleton Arena, Heywood Phoenix Centre and Littleborough Library in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Rochdale Parish Church will be open from 10am - 7pm today (9 September) for quiet reflection and for signing a book of condolence. St Leonard's Church in Middleton is open for prayer and quiet reflection today 10am - 12noon and Saturday & Sunday 1pm - 4pm. St Luke's Church in Heywood is also open for people to light a candle or quietly reflect 12noon - 6.30pm today.

Flags have been lowered to half-mast at civic buildings and churches across the borough.

Church bells will be rung from noon today as the nation mourns for the Queen.

The death of the Sovereign is one of the rare occasions when fully muffled bells are sounded – a technique to create an echo by fitting pads to both sides of the bell clapper.

The Queen visited St Chad’s in 1994 with the Duke of Edinburgh for a service to mark the churches 800th anniversary. Rochdale Parish Church will also be hosting a Civic Memorial Service on the eve of her funeral with details to be announced.

 

 

Council leader, Councillor Neil Emmott, said: “There is a profound sadness across the nation and will be for some considerable time following the death of our longest serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Throughout her glorious and steadfast reign she was devoted to her duties and was the very best of us.

“Like everyone else in our borough, I was in awe of Her Majesty’s selflessness and enduring commitment to her public duty. I was present when The Queen opened Hopwood Hall College’s Middleton campus in 1992 and will always remember the great admiration she inspired in everyone who was there.

“On behalf of the council and the borough of Rochdale I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to The Queen’s family at this very difficult time.”

Rochdale MP, Tony Lloyd, said: "People across Rochdale will join me in mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth.

"Even the oldest amongst us can scarcely remember the time before she was on the throne and for most of us, Queen Elizabeth, the longest serving monarch in the nation’s history, has been part of the backdrop to our national life.

"No one would challenge the tributes that have poured in pointing to her so many years of service, and even years of service long after we could have expected her to have retired. Not surprisingly, I have received tributes to her from colleagues and acquaintances across the world.

"But it is here that this time of change will be most deeply felt.

"May she rest in Peace."