CHURCHES in our diocese were at the heart of four days of celebrations to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The beacon is lit on All Saints Church, Catherington

Hugh Dennis opens the cathedral Diamond Jubilee summer fete

Colourful stalls at the cathedral's Diamond Jubilee summer fete

Many held special services and invited friends and local residents to join them for Big Lunches. And there were flags and bunting galore as worshippers marked the Queen’s 60 years of faithful service to the nation.

At Portsmouth Cathedral, Bishop Christopher preached at a special Diamond Jubilee service which was followed by a summer fete inside and outside the building.

All Saints Church, Catherington was chosen as one of 4,000 locations nationwide for beacons to be lit to mark the occasion. And worshippers at St Jude’s, Southsea, ran four days of celebrations in their local shopping precinct and hosted special events inside the church. For photos of all these events, click here.

In his sermon, Bishop Christopher said: “Today we honour Her Majesty who has visibly shown us where her commitment and loyalty are. Visibly she belongs to God and her service is an expression of that. It is not that she has been a Christian in private, with faith in the God who made her kept in a compartment. Her life and reign have been a whole – not faith in one box, the job and the firm in another. That has added a depth and quality that may not be as easily measured as the length of her reign, but is surely what we singularly celebrate today.

“Today we celebrate Our Queen with thanksgiving that she has long reigned over us, but also with deep gratitude and affection for the example she has given of living true to the One whose image we all bear. She has given us service and leadership of stature, integrity, and quality. The second verse of the national anthem includes a prayer which God has richly answered for us over 60 years. ‘Thy choicest gifts in store, on her be pleased to pour.’ She has given us cause ‘to sing with heart and voice, God save the Queen’.”

After the service, comedian Hugh Dennis formally opened the cathedral’s Diamond Jubilee Summer Fete. Hundreds of visitors enjoyed lunches, teas, a royal-themed fancy dress, a fire engine, bouncy castle, and the chance to throw wet sponges at the clergy and see bell-ringers in action in the tower. There was entertainment from Portsmouth Grammar School Brass Band, Morris dancers and ukelele players.

For Facebook photos from the summer fete, click here and here.

St Jude’s Church in Southsea led celebrations over all four days in the Palmerston Road shopping precinct, where there were fairground rides, a giant bouncy castle, a fire engine and stalls. Worshippers not only acted as marshals, but offered to pray for visitors on the streets.

The church also hosted a children’s party on the Saturday, which included royal-themed activities and a tea for 200 children; a tea dance on the Sunday; and a black-tie Grand Ball on the Monday night, which featured music from a swing band.

Three hundred people turned up to see a beacon lit on All Saints Church, Catherington, on the Monday night. It was one of 4,000 venues chosen nationwide for a network of beacons to mark the occasion. The Queen lit the final beacon outside Buckingham Palace that night.

Newport Minster hosted a week of activities, which were launched by Bishop Christopher in a special service attended by 250 people on May 28. He then started a 48-hour Bible reading marathon organised by the Friends of Newport Minster which aimed to raise money for the development of the building. Volunteers took slots of 20 minutes or more to read – either in the church or at home.

Relentless rain failed to dampen the spirit of determined partygoers at St Cuthbert’s Church in Copnor. Dozens of children and adults dressed in red, white and blue came together to celebrate at a tea party. There were cakes, sandwiches, live music performances and activities for the children.

Organisers decorated the inside and outside of the church with Union flags, bunting and red, white and blue balloons, some of which were kindly donated by Hampshire Flag Company.

Revd David Power said: "We had no idea how many people would turn up so we’re delighted with the turnout. It’s gone remarkably well. Events like this are so important because they bring the community together and give all ages and types of people a chance to get to know each other."

The celebrations were rounded off with a barn dance, attended by more than 100 people.

And worshippers from across the diocese signed a special thank-you card which was sent to Buckingham Palace conveying their good wishes. The card was presented during the cathedral service on June 3, and also signed by the bishop and the dean before it was sent to the Queen.

Pupils from church schools across the diocese had entered a competition to design the front of the card. The overall winner was nine-year-old Ellie Davidson, from Brighstone C of E Primary School on the Isle of Wight. She not only saw her design sent to the Queen, but also won a VIP trip around HMS Warrior with her family. She got to meet the ship’s captain and enjoy tea with him on board. To see her design, click here.

The winner in the category for five to seven-year-olds was Ada Kohlmaier-Sims, aged six, from Shalfleet C of E Primary School, also on the Isle of Wight. She won a certificate and goody bag. And her design, along with 24 others, are on display in Portsmouth Cathedral until June 15.