…the Church of England’s leaders have reason to be sincere in offering a “Big Thank You” to the Queen, not least for living and reigning for so long. Things might not be quite so straightforward under the next Sovereign. Prince Charles’s interest in religion is well-known, but it would seem very different from the uncomplicated and quiet Anglicanism of his mother. He has famously expressed a desire to be “defender of faith” rather than “Defender of the Faith”, a distinction that may seem more appropriate in a multi-faith society but which also implies a more problematic desire to involve himself in theological debates (as well as leaving atheists and agnostics seemingly undefended). Some of the more traditionally-minded clergy objected to his divorce and remarriage in a civil ceremony. A few even questioned its legality.
The next coronation, if indeed there is a next coronation, is unlikely to be an Anglican monopoly like that in 1953. Will the new king be expected, or willing, to swear to uphold “the Protestant reformed religion established by law”? It seems unlikely. But it seems even more unlikely that the Church of England would give up its official status easily, or even that it will be seriously questioned. I suspect that the C of E will be offering prayers, and even Big Thank-Yous, to monarchs for as long as the monarchy persists. Anachronisms survive best if they stick together.
I’ve never met HRH, but came within three feet of so doing. Had the line gone on a bit longer I would have remarked that her great-grandfather Edward and my great-grandfather grew up together as playmates at Windsor castle. Thus it is that my love and respect for my Queen runs very deep. On account of citizenship I am one of her loyal subjects, a status I value most deeply.
I dearly hope the good woman, now by three years the oldest sovereign of England, not only becomes the longest serving in 2016 but attains her mother’s age or better and outlives her complete dolt of a son. Many across her realm pray it is somehow the Lord’s plan that we bypass a putative Charles III and move directly to William V.
In the meantime it would be an added delight should she choose to exercise her powers as [i]Fide Defendorum[/i] and sack the present ABC in much the manner of Australia’s Whitlam (1975). Nearly any evangelical replacement from Africa ([i]e.g.[/i] Orombi) would be not only a vast improvement at Canterbury but a tremendous inspiration to the Anglican Communion, so very tired as we are of over-educated, over-fed white men in the seat of Cantuar.
[blockquote] “Certainly, her Christmas messages in recent years have been increasingly explicit in their Christian content. In the most recent, for example, she pronounced that “God sent into the world a unique person … a Saviour, with the power to forgive” and offered a prayer that “We might all find room in our lives for the message of the angels and for the love of God through Christ our Lord.” The Archbishop of Canterbury’s own New Year Message contained rather fewer mentions of God.” [/blockquote]
Even agnostics can spot it – many bishops don’t do much in the way of proclaiming the essentials of the gospel. They could learn a lot from HM.
Amen to that!