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The death of Her Majesty The Queen

The Acting Primate of Anglican Church of Australia issued the following statement on the death of Queen Elizabeth II. They are followed by a statement from the Adelaide Diocese by Bishop Tim Harris.

The Acting Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, Archbishop Philip Freier, expressed his deep sadness over the death of Her Late Majesty the Queen.

“The Queen was much-admired and respected by millions of Australians,” Archbishop Freier said. “My prayers are with the King and the Royal Family at this time as they grieve the loss of a mother and grandmother.

“We pray also for the people of the United Kingdom, as they grieve the loss of their beloved Queen.”

Archbishop Freier paid tribute to the Queen’s service and faith.

“The Queen’s life was one of service and dedication to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth for which we thank God.

“We remember her too as a faithful Christian and leader of the Church of England whose faith gave her the courage, resilience and her strong ethic of service to others.

“We remember with gratitude the grace with which she performed her duties, a steadfast and reassuring figure through decades of tremendous change and times of both hardship and joy.

“As frequent visitor to Australia the Queen had a special place in the hearts of Australians and she leaves behind a truly extraordinary legacy, having touched the lives of so many.

“May Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II rest in peace and rise in glory.”

A Statement from the Anglican Diocese of Adelaide

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them.” (Revelation 14:13)

Never has a royal title been so appropriate and well-deserved than the title ‘Her Majesty’. Queen Elizabeth II has stood tall as a sovereign whose dedication to service, duties and responsibilities has been exhibited throughout her remarkable reign. Her death truly does bring us to the end of an era, and one for which we may be truly thankful to God for the gift she has been to the United Kingdom, to the Commonwealth and to the world. We remember with fondness her many visits to Australia and being welcomed to the City of Adelaide and St. Peter’s Cathedral.

We express our condolences to the Royal Family as they balance personal grief with significant responsibilities of State and assure King Charles III of our prayers as he seeks to lead in his mother’s remarkable footsteps.

Grief brings a wide range of emotions, a mixture of loss, sadness and heartfelt thankfulness. We join many others in respecting Her Majesty’s legacy in a time of mourning, and wherever possible our churches will seek to provide space and opportunity for that.

In her first Christmas message in 1952, Her Majesty asked for prayer in the following words:

‘Pray for me 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.’ The Lord has certainly answered that prayer!

At the time of her Coronation, the Queen promised three things: to govern appropriately, to maintain justice, and to profess the gospel of Christ. There can be no doubting that she was faithful to these promises to the very last and will be welcomed into glory as a truly ‘good and faithful servant!’

We commend a prayer adapted from English priest Pete Greig:

King of Kings, we give You thanks for the life and faith of Your servant, our sister in Christ, Elizabeth. As countless people remember her life and legacy, may we be inspired anew to live for You in the service of others for as long as we may live. Amen

Bishop Tim Harris,
Administrator, Anglican Diocese of Adelaide