Statement about Bishop David Bentley’s Funeral
It is with great sadness that Lichfield Cathedral has to announce that the funeral of Bishop David Bentley, planned for Monday 23rd March at 12:30pm, has had to be restricted to attendance only by the close family. We regret that we will not be able to admit anyone other than the family to the cathedral for this service; we are very sorry that this has to be the case.
The most recent guidelines from the Church of England, based on advice received from Government, significantly reduces the scale of funeral services and seeks to minimise the risk to people over 70 by discouraging public gatherings during this period of rising Coronavirus infection and imposes physical distancing within the church itself amongst those who do attend.
It is planned that Bishop David’s ashes will be interred in Gloucester Cathedral at a future date and that a Requiem Eucharist can be held here in Lichfield when we are permitted to do so. We will make the details of these occasions known as soon as we can.
Our thoughts and prayers continue for Clarice and the family at this most difficult time for them as their mourn and grieve for Bishop David.
Adrian Dorber, Dean of Lichfield