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| Image : Sky Channel |
Each stage of Her Late Majesty's final journey from the place of her death at Balmoral Castle, to her burial in a Royal Chapel in the great church of Saint George, Windsor, has been marked by the rites of the Christian Church. There have been public Services held in the Cathedrals of Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff (finally, of course, the Funeral Service in Westminster Abbey itself) during which beautiful occasional addresses have drawn attention to the central place of Christ in the life of Queen Elizabeth. There have been other smaller occasions of Christian prayer at Balmoral Castle, Saint Giles Great Kirk in Edinburgh, at Buckingham Palace, in the Hall of Westminster and finally in the Chapel at Windsor. Each step has been marked by prayer to Almighty God.
Queen Elizabeth regularly acknowledged God in her public addresses and never thought it might be embarrassing or politically incorrect to do so. The person of Jesus Christ, she claimed once so memorably, was the foundation upon which she built her work as Sovereign. She put her Faith into practice throughout her entire adult life.
The death of this remarkable, Godly woman has been the occasion for plentiful and moving expressions of love, admiration and gratitude for her person and for her long life, so well spent in service. One cannot help but be struck by this, even if not disposed to the concept of Constitutional Monarchy as a form of government. These days have been a great moment of history.
By the Grace of God, it will be much more than just that, however. Calling to mind the admirable life of service of Queen Elizabeth is also a Christian moment. It would be a wonderful thing if even some of the ten of millions who have followed her passing would find again a place for God in their lives. That would be a fitting tribute to our late Sovereign lady.
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| Image : The Guardian |
