Dear Friends,
I woke up Friday morning and, after breakfast, I tuned in to BBC Radio 4 for the ‘World at One’ news program. The program started with the sound of church bells being rung muffled (the bell-ringers tie a ‘muffle’ or pad of material to the clapper) and gun salutes across the British Isles and the Commonwealth. Then, the National Anthem was sung, only, it had changed – “God save our gracious King…” After 70 years, as has always been the case, the royal succession was instant and seamless. King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at Buckingham Palace to a huge crowd of well-wishers who were reaching out to him and even kissing him. The phrase was heard over and over again – “God save the King!”
I have been surprised at the strength of emotion expressed at the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Since Thursday afternoon, I have had so many people reaching out (and not just ex-pats) sharing their sense of loss, asking for comfort, and also offering their condolences. I have been very moved by it all. I have to say that I keep getting choked up and tearful! My friend, the Archbishop of York, was being interviewed on the BBC this morning, and he was describing the times that he has met the Queen and stayed with her at Sandringham or Windsor. He told of the first time he was staying as a newly ordained Bishop and how terrified he felt; he used a delightful phrase ‘imposter syndrome’ because he felt out of place. But the Queen saw him, and sat him down with her, got him a drink, and immediately made him feel at ease. Indeed, he talked about staying up late by the fire and doing a jigsaw with her! The newscaster asked him about national mourning and the sense of grief that filled so many hearts. Archbishop Stephen said, “we are all grieving as if she was a member of our own family…but that’s the point – she was!” It certainly feels like my mum has died all over again. I met the Queen when she celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 2002 and she was gracious, and so interested in what I was doing. As Stephen has said, she had an ability of putting anyone and everyone at ease. She exemplified duty, service, and faithfulness. Every Christmas, she always spoke of her faith in Jesus Christ who was her rock; her coronation was celebrated in the context of the Eucharist; her anointing with holy oil a sign that she was to be a leader of faith.
King Charles made his first speech to the Commonwealth of Nations on Friday, and I was moved that he used the same sentiment that became the hallmark of his beloved mother’s reign – of dedicated service to the family of nations under his care. It was also a deeply honest and moving address that did not avoid the sadness of his own family’s loss, and indeed, the difficulties that have surrounded the change in direction for his son, Harry and his family. He dedicated himself to a life of service and made it very clear that his faith has been firmly and deeply planted in the Church of England, and I felt very comforted by those words. We had a glimpse of a compassionate and caring man. I had the privilege of meeting him a number of times when I worked in Devon, and I saw that same compassion and sense of duty in his first address. He has been an ‘apprentice’ for a very long time but he has a great deal to give, and his beloved mother has formed him for this role. At the end of his address, he spoke movingly and directly to her:
To my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this; thank you. Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served all these years. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
My dear friends, another great Elizabethan age comes to a close but, as the Prime Minister of the UK said, a new Carolean age begins. This is the heart of our Christian Faith – death is not an end but a new beginning. What is being played out so very publicly on the world stage at the moment happens to be part of everyday life; birth leading to death that leads to something new. Mourning will give way to gladness because of our faith in Jesus Christ who promised all of us eternal life. How significant that, on Sunday, we will keep our Patronal Feast; Saint Thomas knew the pain of grief, and could not believe the disciples when they said that the Lord was alive, but when he saw him he exclaimed with joy from his heart “My Lord and my God!”
Sunday will be very poignant as we commemorate all who died on 9/11 at the 4 p.m. Choral Evensong. As many of you know, the memorial is inscribed with words of Queen Elizabeth – ‘Grief is the price we pay for love.’ It is, therefore, fitting that we will also pray for her when we pray for those who died on 9/11, and also pray for ourselves that we may be faithful to the Lord until our own journey is ended.
Affectionately,
Your Priest and Pastor,
Carl
