With the approval and agreement of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Church Buildings Council is encouraging every parish church in England to organise a festival on the weekend of 10-12 June 2016 to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday and her role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England. This will coincide with official celebrations taking place in London.
Sir Tony Baldry, Chair of the Church Buildings Council, says that celebrations over that weekend can take many forms. "The variety of potential forms for the celebrations is huge, from flower festivals to organ, bell-ringing or choir festivals, food or even beer festivals! – and it is hoped that, wherever possible, every church will take part.
The Council also hopes that churches will mount exhibitions of their own life over the previous 90 years. "In addition, to coincide with the Queen’s birthday we hope that every church will be able to organise an exhibition of the life of its parish over the previous 90 years. Such exhibitions should, by charting the changes in the lives of our communities since 1926, highlight the ways in which parish churches have been and remain the focus of those communities, and be a celebration both of our churches and of the people that they serve. We hope that most parishes will be able to find photographs, artworks and oral history connected with their church and the local area."
Though the onus will be on parishes to arrange their events, the Church Buildings Council will act as a hub for ideas and as a central co-ordination point. They will be sending out guidance on the organisation of these events, and all relevant guidance will be available on the ChurchCare website. Details of events will appear on ChurchDays.co.uk.