From
the Rectory
We
continue to give thanks for the life and reign of Her Late Majesty, Queen
Elizabeth II. And to pray for King Charles III and all the royal family – and
indeed for our nation. Many of the events surrounding the Queen’s death were
quite extraordinary. The live-streamed lying in state and The Queue were
phenomenal. One of the most remarkable parts of that memorable week was the
Proclamation of the new king, with colourful regalia and fanfare by The Garter King of Arms and then by The Clarenceux King of Arms in London, and more
soberly in these parishes. I was pleased to be able to attend this little piece
of history, organised by our civic parish councils, in Rushlake Green and
Dallington. If you missed it, you can find a video taken outside Warbleton
Parish Church on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JghXFX3tAms (“220911 Proclamation
of King Charles III”). The full text of the Proclamation can be found online
for example at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proclamation_of_accession_of_Charles_III#Text_of_proclamation
A
number of points are noteworthy. Her Majesty’s death is strikingly described as
Almighty God being pleased to call her to his mercy. What a wonderful way to
speak of Christian death! The Queen is dead, but really and truly she is more
alive than ever. She has gone to be with Jesus which, as the Bible says, is in
many ways for her, better by far.
The
Proclamation goes on to say that Charles is king, “by the Grace of God”. Kings
and Queens, we’re told, reign by God. That is not to say that the Bible is
clear that monarchy is the best form of government. Or that God approves of
particular kings or their actions. But it is to say that God is sovereign: he
is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He raises up kings and empires and brings
them down. Rulers continue only by divine permission. It is partly because of this
that the New Testament can exhort submission to the powers that be, even though
some of the Roman Emperors were pretty terrible. The order God has established
is sometimes better than rebellion and chaos. Christians are called to be good
citizens and seek the good of the city.
One
of the great things about “our late Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Second
of Blessed and Glorious memory” was that she took her allegiance to Jesus
Christ very seriously, as her Christmas messages often showed. As others have
commented, at her coronation, before others pledged their loyalty to her, she
knelt at the high altar and prayed. Apparently she would also get down on her
knees daily in prayer. After the model of Jesus who came not to be served but
to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many, she was indeed The Servant
Queen. (See further Bible Society’s resources:
biblesociety.org.uk/search/Servant%20Queen/).
A
final great strength of the Proclamation, in my view, was its commitment to
prayer. We beseech God “to bless His Majesty with long and happy Years to reign
over us”. The response “God Save The King” – and indeed the National Anthem –
are no mere form of words but a prayer. Even kings, depend on the grace and
kindness of God. We might also use these prayers from The Book of Common
Prayer:
O LORD,
our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, the only
Ruler of princes, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth:
Most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most gracious
Sovereign Lord, King CHARLES; and so replenish him with the grace of thy
Holy Spirit, that he may alway incline to thy will, and walk in thy way. Endue
him plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant him in health and wealth long to
live; strengthen him that he may vanquish and overcome all his enemies; and
finally after this life he may attain everlasting joy and felicity; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty
God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless Camilla the
Queen Consort, William Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the
Royal Family: Endue them with thy holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly
grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlasting
kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Revd Marc Lloyd
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