Bishops pay tribute to Her Majesty The Queen
The Queen led a life of Christian witness that was an example of faith to hold dear, say the Bishops of the Church in Wales, paying tribute to Her Majesty The Queen.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Church in Wales, the seven bishops express their great sadness at the Queen’s death and give thanks for her sincere and devout faith. They also praise the “extraordinary service and dedication” she gave to the nation and the Commonwealth.
The Royal Family, they say, are in their prayers as they mourn the Queen.
A Tribute to Her Majesty The Queen
The news of the death of Her Majesty The Queen has been received with great sadness by the Bishops of the Church in Wales. Like most of the population, we have all lived our lives within her reign, and have no experience of any other monarch in the United Kingdom.
Even so, it is clear that Her Majesty was extraordinary in the service and dedication she gave to the nation and the Commonwealth. We will all be mindful of the commitment she made on her twenty-first birthday in 1947, when she promised her whole life to the service of the people. It is a commitment from which she never flinched, and a service which she gave gladly. She endured through good times and bad, through celebrations and setbacks in the life of the nation. Whenever she was called upon to speak to the nation and the Commonwealth, she spoke in a way which reminded us of who we were, and called us to a greater response and more hopeful future. Born into privilege, she quietly transformed the monarchy so that it adapted itself in time. As a person, she typified an aspect important to national life, service for the greater good of all.
We are particularly thankful to God for Her Majesty’s Christian witness. At Christmas, her broadcasts to the nation never failed to speak of her personal faith in Christ as Saviour. She commended love for God and one’s neighbour, and her life was lived in a way which quietly prioritised a commitment to Christian worship on a Sunday, and a regime of daily prayer. Like so much of her life, this was performed without display, but sincerely and with great devotion. This is an example of faith which we will hold dear.
Our prayers are with the Royal family at this sad time.
The Most Revd Andrew John, Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Bangor
The Rt Revd Gregory Cameron, Bishop of St Asaph
The Rt Revd Joanna Penberthy, Bishop of St Davids
The Rt Revd June Osborne, Bishop of Llandaff
The Rt Revd Cherry Vann, Bishop of Monmouth
The Rt Revd John Lomas, Bishop of Swansea and Brecon
The Rt Revd Mary Stallard, Assistant Bishop in Bangor