On January 26 1901 The Victoria Daily Times stated that:

perhaps the most striking evidence of the universality of the grief of Her Majesty's subjects was given yesterday when in every church in the city the dominant tone was one of the most profound regret at the decease of one who was as one of the pastors expressed it 'not only the Queen but mother to her people.'¹³

In many of the churches the Dead March to Saul was played along with "God Save the King" in honour of Edward VII. Reports of the services at many of Victoria's churches were reported in the Victoria Daily Times

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church:

The church was well attended on the evening of January 25 1901. In honour of the Queen the 'Dead March' was played before, after and during the service. The pulpit was draped in black. Reverend Leslie Clay's sermon spoke mostly of the Queen and the great loss that was felt in the city. (January 26 1901p.3)

Christ Church Cathedral

Services were held in the morning and evening on January 25 1901. The interior was draped including the choir loft for the occasion. In the evening service the Reverend spoke of the constancy of the Queen's love for her late husband and the beautiful nature of the domestic side of the Queen's rein. During the morning and evening services funeral hymns were played as well as the 'Dead March in Saul.' (January 26 1901 p.3)

Metropolitan Methodist Church

The interior of the church was beautifully decorated for the occasion. The pillars in the church were draped with mourning cloth. Near the organ pipes a laurel wreath was hung with crape. A Union Jack was drooped at half-mast from the very top of the pipes. A picture of the Queen was placed on an easel on the platform. Reverend Elliot Rowe stated that "…before the completion of a month of the new century, death removes from the highest place ever occupied by a human being the most remarkable woman and one of the greatest monarchs that ever occupied a throne."¹⁴ The Calvary Baptist Church, the First Congregational Church, First Presbyterian Church and the Reformed Episcopal Church were also held services in the city on January 26 1901. Many of these churches were also draped for the occasion.

Victoria College Service

A service was held in the Victoria College Chapel on January 24 1901. The service was attended by almost all of the faculty and student body.¹⁵

School Children's Service at the Metropolitan Methodist Church

A service for the school children of Victoria was held at the Metropolitan Methodist church on February 1 1901. The Students and their teachers marched to the church around 3pm. The church was filled with approximately 2500 students from across the city. The Mayor presided over the service. The Lieutenant Governor, Bishop Cridge, Rev. Dr.Wilson, Rev. Dr Campbell, Rev. W. Leslie Clay, Rev. J.F. Vichert, Rev. C.S. Crowe and members of the school board were all in attendance. They children gathered to honour the memory of Queen Victoria. The service included funeral hymns and tributes to the Queen from various Reverends.¹⁶ (Feb 2 1901 p.6)

Parliament Buildings

February 2 1901 was designated by the Governor General and the Privy Council of Canada as a day of general mourning to be observed by all people throughout the Dominion. Numerous church services were held throughout the city at 11 am on February 2 1901. The public service for the Queen was at 2:15 PM at the legislative grounds. The Victoria Daily Times stated that thousands gathered at the legislative grounds to pay tribute to the Queen.

The schedule of the service was as follows:

Opening remarks by His Worship Mayor HaywardService- 90 Psalm Extempore Prayer Address- His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor Hymn- First and last verses "Rock of Ages" Address- Rev. Elliot S. Rowe Hymn- 'Abide With Me.' Dead March

The Mayor stated at the opening of the memorial that: We have met today to pay the last tribute of respect and do honour to the memory of our beloved and departed Queen, one to whom we have so long given a loving, loyal obedience and whose womanly virtues, noble example and gentle goodness has ever been an inspiring and mighty influence for good. We admire her tactful patronage of art, science, and literature, which during her long and happy reign has made so much advance and which has contributed in no small degree to the comfort and prosperity of her people, but we are especially thankful for the large measure of civil and religious liberty which during these years have been secured to us. So that now we can justly claim that under no other flag can the same satisfactory assurance of personal freedom and security be felt than under the constitutional monarchy of the British Empire.¹⁷

The service ended with the societies and the general public forming a procession and march to the City Hall via Government Street to Yates, Yates to Douglas and Douglas to the City Hall. At City Hall the proclamation of the accession of King Edward VII was read. (January 31 1901 p.4)