Bishop Mark pays tribute to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

It is with a huge sense of loss and sadness that I hear the news of the passing of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, for me personally Queen twice over: Queen of the United Kingdom in which I have spent most of my life, and Queen of Canada, the nation in which I was born.

For the vast majority in this nation and around the commonwealth, she has served as Queen for as long as we have known: a consistent faithful point of reference through the changing scenes of our lives.

We stand together in our grief and loss, whatever our politics or situation, she was for us a rock, profoundly strengthened by her own deep faith in Christ, her rock.

Here, though, lies our comfort and our hope as well. Her lifelong trust in Christ now finds its peaceful fulfilment in him, and it is to him that we turn in our own time of need.

We pray with gratitude for her long, wise, and compassionate reign. We pray for our nation and the Commonwealth. We pray for the Royal Family in their loss and grieving. And, in particular, we pray for our King. May he, and we, be upheld and strengthened by the grace of her Lord and ours, Jesus Christ.

For our late Queen: thanksgiving

For our Diocese, the commonwealth, and all peoples: prayers

For the King and our nation: God’s richest blessing: God save the King