THE setting might not have been as grand as St Paul’s Cathedral, but Lifton Methodist Church also has been the venue for a special service to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday.

For the service, led by the Rev Anne Curnow, the walls were festooned with bunting and the window sills were decorated, not only with flowers but also with commemorative mugs, tiaras, strings of pearls, and other royal memorabilia — and a handbag containing, they were assured, such items as the Queen routinely carries in hers (lipstick, mirror, a pen, a handkerchief — but no money!)

As the congregation gathered, they were able to view a slide show of pictures covering the Queen’s ninety years.

Bible passages were read by Grace James and Anne Rowe, and Denise Gribble was the organist for the hymns, which included one written for the occasion by Howard Curnow.

In her address Rev Curnow referred to the booklet, ‘The Servant Queen and the King She Serves’, and everyone was presented with bookmarks similarly entitled, with a quotation from the Queen’s 2002 Christmas broadcast. The service concluded with the National Anthem.

A special celebration cake was cut by Mrs Mary Davey, one of the most senior members, and the cake was enjoyed with coffee by everyone after the service.