By a Pioneers Field Worker, United Kingdom
Billions of people recently listened to a clear presentation of the Gospel. This was not a clever campaign by a well-funded media group. This was the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, who died in Scotland on 8 September 2022 at the age of 96.
Two of the British monarch’s titles are Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England. In these roles, Queen Elizabeth appointed bishops and deans in the Anglican Church as well as going to church for national occasions, royal weddings and state funerals. She also regularly attended church services in Windsor and at Craithie Church when she was at Balmoral in Scotland.
Queen Elizabeth spoke openly about her faith in the Lord Jesus in her annual Christmas Day broadcast. In her very first one in 1952, she asked people to pray for her and her upcoming coronation. ‘Pray that God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making, and that I may faithfully serve him, and you, all the days of my life.’ She upheld the Scripture, asking ‘To what greater inspiration and counsel can we turn, than to the imperishable truth to be found in this treasure house, the Bible?’
In the year 2000, when the millennium was the focus, Queen Elizabeth chose to speak of the birthday of a man ‘who was destined to change the course of our history. And today we are celebrating the fact that Jesus Christ was born 2000 years ago; this is the true millennium anniversary.’ She proceeded to speak about her own Christian faith. ‘For me’, she said, ‘the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example.’
In 2016, Queen Elizabeth noted the widespread nature of the Christian faith. ‘Billions of people now follow Christ’s teaching and find in him the guiding light for their lives’, she said. ‘I am one of them because Christ’s example helps me see the value in doing small things with great love.’
Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, wrote of the Queen’s Christian faith on the day her death was announced. ‘She lived out her faith every day of her life. Her trust in God and profound love for God was foundational in how she led her life - hour by hour, day by day.’
