One attendee, Joan Davis, said while she planned to watch the official New Zealand Memorial Service at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul that afternoon, she had wanted to attend a service locally.
"It will be emotional this afternoon, and very beautiful I expect, but a service is best experienced in person, not through a television screen."
She was glad Taranaki people had the opportunity to attend a service she said.
"I think everyone, even if they aren't what you would call royalists, everyone liked the Queen. She was a very dutiful woman who gave her whole life in service which you have to admire, don't you?"
