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I well remember 2nd June 1953, when as a London schoolboy, I with others from my school and 10,000 schoolchildren from all over London, we lined the Victoria Embankment at Westminster for the Coronation procession of H.M. the Queen to the Abbey. It was an exciting, although wet day, and we had been there from early dawn. After the procession had passed, I had time to return home and see the rest of the actual Coronation on our new black and white television. Later that week I went with my parents to Westminster Abbey to see the actual 'Coronation Theatre', as it was called, in real colour! I still have my Souvenir Programme published at the time for 2/6d. June 3rd, 2002 begins the celebration to mark the Golden Jubilee of H.M. the Queen. Fifty years is a long time to be doing anything, and it is an enormously long time for any person to be in the same 'career', if that is what you call the Queen's long service to the nation. Much has changed over those fifty years, but the Queen's long reign is the measure of the stability that we have as a nation, through all the changes and chances of time. There has been much criticism of the Royal Family recently, although little of the Queen herself, who at her Coronation was anointed for service by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The crowning itself was but the outward sign of what had taken place earlier in the Abbey service. It was the anointing with Holy Oil by the Archbishop that marked out the Sovereign as the one chosen by God for service to her people. This is what the Queen has tried to do, and has recent said, will continue to do, and I believe has done it with excellence as someone who is a committed Christian. She said recently, "For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide the framework in which I try to lead my life." As a Christian Monarch and the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, she has upheld publicly the values of God's Kingdom, who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Golden Jubilee is a time to thank God for this remarkable faithfulness to Christian service. It is Christian service, because we are still a Christian Nation for all that the politicians and many unbelievers may say in these indifferent times. We are continually being told we are a multi-faith nation, I do not accept this, we are a Christian Nation with people of other faiths living here. The Queen is the Defender of the Faith! Long may it remain so. God save the Queen! With my prayers and blessing, Your priest and friend MALCOLM FERRIER |
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page last updated 4 JUNE 2002 |
