The ceremonial route for the cortege which will transport the remains of King Richard III from the University of Leicester to Leicester Cathedral has been announced.
The remains of the King have been held securely at the University of Leicester, following their discovery under a car park in Leicester in August 2012.
On Sunday 22nd March 2015, a hearse will leave the University of Licester during the late morning and travel to Fenn Lane Farm, reputedly the site of King Richard’s death, before moving on to nearby village parish churches of Dadlington and Sutton Cheney.
The cortege will visit Dadlington as some of the battle-dead are buried in the churchyard of St James’ the Greater. Sutton Cheney has been chosen because it is believed that King Richard took his final Mass at St James’ church on the eve of the battle.
The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Tim Stevens, will then lead a short ceremony at the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre in the early afternoon.
The cortege will then go on to Market Bosworth, Newbold Verdon and Desford as it makes its way back to Leicester.
A spokesman for the Leicester Cathedral Quarter Partnership Board said: “We are now working closely with partners in the district and the parishes to plan the detail of how the passing of the cortege will be marked.”
The King’s mortal remains will re-enter the City of Leicester in mid-afternoon at Bow Bridge, where they will be greeted by the City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, and the Lord Mayor, Councillor John Thomas.
A horse-drawn hearse will then be used to complete the final section of the King’s journey from Bow Bridge through the city centre to the Cathedral, where The Dean of Leicester, the Very Revd David Monteith, will meet the coffin when it arrives at the Cathedral just before 6pm.
Dr Richard Buckley, from the University of Leicester, lead archaeologist on “The Dig for Richard III”, will then formally pass of the Ministry of Justice licence granted to the University for the remains of the King to the Dean of Leicester. At that point, the responsibility for the King passes from the University of Leicester to the Church.
King Richard’s coffin will be carried into the Cathedral for an evening service of Compline, at which the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, will preach the sermon.
King Richard’s remains will lie in repose within the Cathedral on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, during which time members of the public will be invited to visit the Cathedral to pray and pay their respects. The re-burial service will take place on Thursday 26th March, bringing to an end the journey of the last Plantagenet king.
PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE FOR THE DAY
12.00 Departure from University of Leicester
Pausing at: Fenn Lane Farm, Dadlington, Sutton Cheney churches
14.00 Short ceremony Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre
Departure via through Market Bosworth, Newbold Verdon and Desford.
16.00 Bow Bridge event
17.45 Arrival at Leicester Cathedral
18.00 Evening worship (Compline)
OTHER EVENTS DURING THE WEEK
MONDAY 23RD TO WEDNESDAY 25TH: The mortal remains of King Richard III will lie in repose in Leicester Cathedral. The public are welcome to come pray and pay their respects during daylight hours.
MONDAY 23RD MARCH: Cardinal Nichols will celebrate Mass for the repose of the soul (a ‘Requiem Mass’) for Richard III in Holy Cross Church, the Catholic parish church and Dominican priory in Leicester city centre. The Choir from St Barnabas’ Cathedral, the Cathedral of the Diocese of Nottingham, will sing at this Mass, which will be open to the public.
THURSDAY 26TH MARCH: The mortal remains of Richard III will be re-interred in Leicester Cathedral, with an invited congregation and in the presence of the Most Rt Revd Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, senior clergy, other Christian denominations and representatives of the World Faiths.
FRIDAY 27TH MARCH: People from across the city of Leicester and the county of Leicestershire will be invited to gather in the Cathedral to see the tomb revealed and celebrate the future.
