Thanksgiving Service for HM Queen Elizabeth

St Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London ( pictured above ) is an Anglican Cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. It is located on Ludgate Hill, which is the highest point in the City. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and opened in 1710 not long after the Great Fire of London had eradicated a large part of the City in 1666.

The Cathedral survived albeit with some damage by the night bombing of London during World War 2. It has served many great services, including the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill and several Royal Marriages.

In a packed Cathedral the service opened with a reading from Isaiah 61. The Prime Minister then read from Romans 12 . The address was given by the Bishop of London , Sarah Mullally who spoke of the very private Coronation under the anointed oils in Westminster Abbey in 1953. The Bishop went on to say that death is not the end, and that grief and love are inextricably linked. The Bishop mentioned that for the Queen, her faith was her anchor and the fountain and the well she drew on throughout her life.

Prayers followed ending in the Lord’s Prayer. The service then sang the 23rd Psalm, sung by the Cathedral Choir and Congregation in rousing rendition. Etched on the faces of those attending was the lament and sorrow of the passing, yet there was hope in their eyes in the knowledge of resurrection and the time to come. ‘The soul of the Righteous is in the hands of God’

A lone piper took the aisle and in full kilt attire played his pipes and “The Flowers of the Forest” as he marched to the High Altar across the black and white marble floor. The song of lament brought from her beloved Scotland and Balmoral where she died. ‘Grant rest upon Her Lord and may she Rest In Peace’

Books of Condolence were placed in the chapels for the congregation to write them and for the books to become historic document of the fine service of Thanksgiving.

Finally the Archbishop of Canterbury gave the blessing followed by the anthem “God save the King.”

Earlier King Charles addressed the congregation via a recorded message. The King spoke of his profound sorrow and deep sense of gratitude to his mother. He spoke of his mother’s fearless embrace of change throughout her 70 year reign as Sovereign and how she always saw the best in people.

King Charles said that our British culture was now made up of many faiths, but that his faith was deeply rooted in the Church of England and as Sovereign would uphold the Constitution. The King said that :whatever your beliefs, I will serve you.”

The King announced that his heir, William, and his wife, today would become the Prince and Princess of Wales, and expressed his love for Harry and Meghan as they “build their lives overseas.”

The King in ending thanked his mother and bid her good journey to meet again with her husband Prince Philip and “May flights of Angels sing thee to your rest.” {eoa}