Services of remembrance
Good morning,
I write on the morning following the announcement of the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. The Principal wrote to our community yesterday indicating that we will be marking his loss in the University. It is probable that the Sunday Chapel service nearest his funeral will be re-cast to reflect on his life of service, faith and commitment. The Chaplaincy will give fuller details of that service as soon as we can. More immediately, tomorrow’s Chapel service will remember the Queen and the Royal Family in prayer. Our preacher, Rt Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Ripon, will re-send her sermon on video today to take account of the news.
You are welcome to come to the chapel service tomorrow (Sunday 11 April) in St Salvator’s Chapel at 11 am, whether a student, member of staff, graduate or friend of the University, regardless of faith or philosophy of life.
The service will be livestreamed as well, accessible at this page: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/community/worship/ and available to view in the playlist afterwards.
Prince Philip was committed to interfaith dialogue and to the environment. In November 2002, at an event to mark the Queen’s Golden Jubilee organised by the Alliance on Religion and Conservation, the Duke made these significant remarks:
We desperately need the conviction of religious belief to guide us in the way we live on, and use, the planet. We have got to learn to balance the economic and scientific realities against the religious demands for responsibility and consideration for the created world. It is not going to be easy, but I am sure that belief and conviction are very powerful motives to care for our planet with all its diversity.
Prince Philip with Principal Knox, during a Royal visit in June 1955.
Yours,
Donald
Revd Dr Donald MacEwan
Chaplain