Faith leaders unite in Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Senior faith leaders in Britain, including the Archbishop of Wales, have voiced strong support for the Platinum Jubilee Beacons and urged their communities to take part.
On Accession Day on 6th February, leaders from nine faith communities (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Zoroastrian, Bahá’í), united by admiration for HM The Queen, have congratulated Her Majesty on 70 years as monarch and encouraged their members and communities to celebrate by lighting beacons in her honour. Through their leadership, the faith and community leaders represent millions of people in the UK, and in some cases, internationally too.
Building on a long tradition of lighting beacons to mark significant royal celebrations, more than 1,500 Platinum Jubilee Beacons will be lit across the UK and Commonwealth on the first evening of the four-day Jubilee Weekend (on Thursday 2nd June 2022). The Beacons will enable local communities to join together and pay tribute to Her Majesty as part of the official programme of events. Choirs are being invited to sing the Song for the Commonwealth as the beacons are lit.
The Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, said, “The Church in Wales is delighted to be joining the tributes to her Majesty the Queen on the historic occasion of her platinum jubilee. We encourage church choirs of all faiths across Wales to join in singing the ‘Song for the Commonwealth’ at 9:45pm on the 2nd June 2022 as the jubilee beacons are lit across the United Kingdom and the capital cities of the Commonwealth. This is a marvellous opportunity for disparate nations, communities, faiths and generations to join together in common fellowship and thank Her Majesty for the 70 years of service and leadership she has given to millions across the world. Let us lift our voices as one to honour both our Queen and the God she has served with such faith and diligence.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said, “This will be a moment of remarkable celebration, as we join together across different generations, denominations, faiths and communities all over the world in proper tribute to Her Majesty The Queen. My prayer is that this might be a chance to truly celebrate Her Majesty’s historic 70 years of service to her country and the Commonwealth, reaching out in friendship, and building community as we are reminded of our common bond under the Crown.”
The Revd Canon Hilary Barber and Mr Narendra Waghela, Co-Chairs, on behalf of the Interfaith Network Board for the UK Board of Trustees, said, “On behalf of the Trustees of the Inter Faith Network for the UK we are delighted to offer our warm support for The Platinum Jubilee Beacons programme which forms part of the official celebrations of 70 years since the accession of Her Majesty The Queen. Service is a key value in all faith traditions and faith communities throughout the UK come together in many contexts in a spirit of friendship to serve others. The lighting of community beacons as part of the marking of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations provides an opportunity for people of all faith backgrounds to join together in that same spirit in thanks for Her Majesty’s own service to this country and the Commonwealth.”
Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR, Pageantmaster of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Beacons, said, “It is wonderful to see the range of support for beacon lighting from the UK’s faith communities. By lighting beacons, we will be highlighting both the diversity and the unity of the nation. The Queen has lit up our lives for seventy years through her dedicated service and commitment to our multi-faith nation. We would like to light up the nation and the Commonwealth in her honour.”
- For more information and to find out how to join in see https://www.queensjubileebeacons.com/
The faith leaders who have voiced support for the Platinum Jubilee Beacons are as follows:
- The Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury
- The Right Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullaly DBE, Bishop of London
- The Most Revd Andrew John, Archbishop of Wales
- Revd Dr Paul Goodliff, General Secretary, Churches Together in England
- Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster
- Imam Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi, Chief Imam, Director General, Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society
- Imam Qari Asim, Chair of Mosques & Imams National Advisory Board
- Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth
- Marie van der Zyl, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews
- Visakha Dasi, Temple President of Bhaktivedanta Manor (of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness)
- Rajnish Kashyap, General Secretary, Hindu Council UK
- Trupti Patel, President, Hindu Forum of Britain
- Lord Singh of Wimbledon, Director at Network of Sikh Organisations UK
- Jasvir Singh OBE, Chair of City Sikhs
- Venerable Seelawimala, Head Priest of the London Buddhist Vihara
- Venerable Ajahn Amaro, Abbot, Amaravati Buddhist Monastery
- Malcolm M. Deboo, President of Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE)
- National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United Kingdom,
- Dr Natubhai Shah MBE, Founder Chair/CEO of the Jain Network
- The Revd Canon Hilary Barber and Mr Narendra Waghela, Co-Chairs, on behalf of the Interfaith Network Board for the UK Board of Trustees
- Krish Raval OBE, Director, Faith in Leadership