As the world mourns the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, it also is looking forward to the future of the monarchy as King Charles III ascends to the throne. While he now King of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms, he also became “Supreme Governor of the Church of England” and “Defender of the Faith.”. The new King released this statement which reads:
“I am a committed Anglican Christian, and at my Coronation, I will take an oath relating to the settlement of the Church of England. At my Accession, I have already solemnly given– as has every Sovereign over the last 300 years – an Oath that pledges to maintain and preserve the Protestant faith in Scotland.
I have always thought of Britain as a ‘community of communities.’ That has led me to understand that the Sovereign has an additional duty – less formally recognized but to be no less diligently discharged. It is our duty to protect the diversity of our country, including by protecting the space for Faith itself and its practice through the religions, cultures, traditions, and beliefs to which our hearts and minds direct us as individuals. This diversity is not just enshrined in the laws of our country, it is enjoined by my own faith. As a member of the Church of England, my Christian beliefs have love at their very heart. By my most profound convictions, therefore – as well as by my position as Sovereign – I hold myself bound to respect those who follow other spiritual paths, as well as those who seek to live their lives in.”
705blackfly.com reached out to the Anglican Church in Northern Ontario shortly after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. They kindly provided this statement:
Statement on the death of Queen Elizabeth II for 705blackfly.com
September 15th, 2022
“We received the news of the death of Her Majesty the Queen last Thursday with great sorrow, even as we remember with profound gratitude her life of great devotion and service.
We also remember the Queen’s deep faith which sustained her throughout her life. Earlier this year she said, “Throughout my life, the message and teaching of Christ have been my guide, and in them I find hope.” We witnessed this on numerous occasions as the Queen lived out her faith with grace, courage, and dignity.
Although our sovereign lived thousands of miles away from us in Northern Ontario and the chances of any of us ever being able to spend time with her for conversation, tea or a marmalade sandwich were remote, the Queen’s message, her personable way her way of being and the messages of hope she brought in good times and in bad made her feel closer to us.
A woman of great compassion, it was just two weeks ago that the Queen sent her condolences to the residents of James Smith Cree Nation following the tragic events that occurred there.
Anglicans around Northern Ontario in the dioceses of Algoma and Moosonee, a vast geographical area extending up the James Bay Coast and as far south as Gravenhurst in the south, are joining millions around the world in a period of mourning for the Queen. We are praying that the Royal family will know God’s comfort and strength in this time of profound and public loss. We are also praying for our new King, Charles III as he takes up his new office and responsibilities at a time of great personal sorrow.
During this ten-day mourning period, Anglicans are being asked to toll their church bells 96 times, to lower their parish flags to half mast, and to offer prayers for the late Queen and the new King during their services of worship. Many parishes have opened the doors of their church for members of the public to offer private prayers. Some have a picture of the Queen draped in black cloth with a book of condolences available for people to sign.
Following the Queen’s funeral in London, the National service for the Queen in Ottawa, the Anglican service at St. James Cathedral in Toronto, and the services in the Anglican Cathedrals in Sault Ste. Marie (for Algoma) and Timmins (for Moosonee) parishes will be able to hold their own services of thanksgiving for the Queen. The services at the Cathedrals in Northern Ontario will be held on October 2nd at 7pm.
This year marked the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. With citizens from around the world, we rejoiced that she was able to mark this milestone in her reign. A number of parishes in Algoma celebrated the Queen’s Jubilee year by planting trees on their church properties. A Silken Lilac Tree will be dedicated in honor of the Queen at Bishophurst, the Bishop’s residence in Sault Ste. Marie ahead of the service of remembrance on October 2nd.
In 2011 the Queen said, “We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love….and then we return home.” (A Commonwealth Gathering 2011).
The Queen did all of those things and more. Her remarkable life of commitment to faith, service and country will be remembered for years – centuries to come. May she rest in the peace of Christ that sustained her throughout her life. For the Queen’s life and witness we say, thanks are to God.
+Anne Germond
Archbishop of Algoma and Moosonee.
