Stephen Hawking funeral | Daily Mail Online

Actor Eddie Redmayne is among the first to have arrived in Cambridge for the funeral of renowned theoretical physicist Professor Stephen Hawking, who died at home on March 14, prompting an outpouring of grief around the world.  

The service will be held at Great St Mary’s Church, which is close to Gonville and Caius College, where Prof Hawking was a fellow for 52 years.

Since his death at home earlier this month, thousands of people have visited this college to sign his book of condolence.

Actor Eddie Redmayne is among the first to have arrived in Cambridge for the funeral of renowned theoretical physicist Professor Stephen Hawking, who died at home on March 14, prompting an outpouring of grief around the world

Despite having said he is an atheist, Prof Hawking’s family felt a traditional church service would give his many friends in the city a chance to remember and pay tribute to him.

Stephen Hawking’s children, Lucy, Robert and Tim, said in a statement: ‘Our father lived and worked in Cambridge for over 50 years.   

Prof Hawking’s ashes with be interred next to the grave of Sir Isaac Newton at Westminster Abbey.

The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, said: ‘It is entirely fitting that the remains of Professor Stephen Hawking are to be buried in the Abbey, near those of distinguished fellow scientists. Sir Isaac Newton was buried in the Abbey in 1727. Charles Darwin was buried beside Isaac Newton in 1882.

Prof Hawking died on March 14, at the age of 76, after a lifetime as one of the world's most renowned scientists despite his battle with motor neurone disease

Prof Hawking died on March 14, at the age of 76, after a lifetime as one of the world’s most renowned scientists despite his battle with motor neurone disease

The church is close to Gonville and Caius College, where Prof Hawking was a fellow for 52 years. Since his death at home earlier this month, thousands of people have visited this college to sign his book of condolence

The church is close to Gonville and Caius College, where Prof Hawking was a fellow for 52 years. Since his death at home earlier this month, thousands of people have visited this college to sign his book of condolence

Despite having said he is an atheist, Prof Hawking's family felt a traditional church service would give his many friends in the city a chance to remember and pay tribute to him

Despite having said he is an atheist, Prof Hawking’s family felt a traditional church service would give his many friends in the city a chance to remember and pay tribute to him

‘Other famous scientists are buried or memorialised nearby, the most recent burials being those of atomic physicists Ernest Rutherford in 1937 and Joseph John Thomson in 1940.

‘We believe it to be vital that science and religion work together to seek to answer the great questions of the mystery of life and of the universe.’

Prof Hawking died on March 14, at the age of 76, after a lifetime as one of the world’s most renowned scientists despite his battle with motor neurone disease. 

Prof Hawking died on March 14, at the age of 76, after a lifetime as one of the world's most renowned scientists despite his battle with motor neurone disease

Prof Hawking died on March 14, at the age of 76, after a lifetime as one of the world's most renowned scientists despite his battle with motor neurone disease

 Stephen Hawking aged 12 in the garden of his St Albans Home (left). And again at his Oxford graduation (right)



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