Press Releases 15th September 2022
The example of the late Queen will shape the future, hopes the Bishop of St Asaph
The example of the late Queen will shape the future, hopes the Bishop of St Asaph
The example of the late Queen will shape the future, hopes the Bishop of St Asaph in a letter sent out to churches across north-east and mid-Wales.
The Rt Revd Gregory Cameron describes Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II as “perhaps the most influential leader of modern times…whose unstinting service, and quiet compassion…. means that she will forever have made her mark on British history.”
The letter, in Welsh and English, is available for everyone to read online and via social media. In a short film to accompany the pastoral letter, Bishop Gregory says Queen Elizabeth was a woman of “tremendous faith who believed that she found the grace and strength to be able to do the work that she did through God.”
On Sunday, Bishop Gregory will join with civic leaders from across north-east and mid-Wales in a service of commemoration for Queen Elizabeth II at St Asaph Cathedral. The Bishop, who will give the sermon, will be joined by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Clwyd, representatives from the House of Lords, members of parliament and the Senedd, local council leaders and members of the Royal British Legion. A special edition of the gospel of St John, celebrating the life of Queen Elizabeth II, will be given, as a keepsake, to everyone attending the service. Editions of the Faithful Servant Gospels are being made available by the Pocket Gospel League.
Also in Bishop Gregory’s pastoral letter, he looks ahead to the reign of His Majesty, King Charles III, whom he has met on several occasions. He draws a parallel between the new King’s description of the new Prince and Princess of Wales and the example of Jesus saying:
“When King Charles addressed the nation the other evening, he also said something significant about the work of the new Prince and Princess of Wales. He spoke of them “helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given”. It was Our Lord who always in his ministry brought people from the edges into the centre of society. He reached out to others whom society had rejected, and asserted the importance and value of every single individual. If our Royal Family, and our politicians, can live by this principle, then there is hope for the future.”
Tomorrow, Bishop Gregory will travel briefly to London to represent the Church in Wales at an audience with the King at Buckingham Palace, alongside other UK faith leaders.
Churches across the diocese are open for prayer, to light a candle and many have books of condolence. Services of commemoration are taking place in churches and all are warmly welcome to attend. Among those taking place are:
Thursday 15 September
- 7pm – St Thomas’ Church, Rhyl: A memorial service for the late Queen Elizabeth II
- 7pm: – St Myllin’s Church, Llanfyllin: Commemoration service for Queen Elizabeth II
Saturday 17 September
- 11am – St Margaret’s Church, Bodelwyddan (The Marble Church): Memorial Service for Her Majesty the Queen
Sunday 18 September
- 11am – St Mark’s Church, Connah’s Quay: A civic service of commemoration
- 11am – St Mary’s Church, Mold: A Service of Commemoration
- 11.30am – St Bartholomew’s Church, Sealand: A Service of Holy Communion remembering the late Queen.
- 3.30pm – St Asaph Catheral with Bishop Gregory and civic representatives from across north-east and mid Wales.
- 6pm – St Mary’s Church, Chirk: A service of commemoration
- 6.30pm – St Giles Church, Wrexham: A Memorial Service for the Queen. The Mayor of Wrexham and civic leaders will be present.
The Diocese of St Asaph is one of the six dioceses of the Church in Wales, an autonomous province of the worldwide Anglican Church.