From Ben – 25 September 2022

Without a doubt the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on 8th September has been one of the biggest events of this year and has overshadowed the Covid pandemic. In the last few months it had become evident to all that, at the age of 96, and after 70 years of sacrificial service, the Queen was rapidly fading. Her death was given the code, “London Bridge has fallen” by the inner workings of the Royal family establishment, and on 8th September it fell.

Her protracted funeral concluded at St George’s chapel on Monday 19th September. Over 1 million people flooded into London and dignitaries from around the world gathered to pay their last respects. London ground to a halt and mountains of flowers, Paddington bears and cards piled up at strategic locations. This was indeed a fitting and an appropriate farewell to a much loved, gracious servant of her people. Her body now rests in a royal vault beside her late husband, Prince Phillip, in St George’s chapel in Windsor Castle.

We must however remember that as a fervent Christian she is at home with the Lord. We have every confidence that through faith in Christ, absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Here on earth, she served as queen and sat on a gilded throne, but in heaven, she will not carry any of the illustrious titles she once had. In heaven she will bow before Him whose name is Jesus Christ, the eternal and only King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Many times in her Christmas addresses she unashamedly gave deference to Christ as her Lord and Saviour and now she will spend eternity worshiping at the throne of the Lord of Lords.

“To many of us our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me 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.” (Queen’s Christmas message, 2000)