As billions watched Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, Christian themes were evident
Archbishop of Canterbury: Elizabeth modeled Jesus' servant leadership
by Bobby Ross Jr.
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(ANALYSIS) In a previous Plug-in, we highlighted the importance of Queen Elizabeth II’s Christian faith in her life.
The 96-year-old monarch’s funeral this week certainly reflected that.
The Guardian’s Harriet Sherwood explains:
The powerful liturgy and rituals of the Church of England – the established church since the 16th century but increasingly marginalised in everyday life – were at the heart of a ceremony watched by billions around the world.
The Queen’s funeral took place under the magnificent gothic arches of Westminster Abbey, the setting for every coronation since 1066, home to the tombs of kings and queens, and the church where the then Princess Elizabeth was married in 1947.
The service was taken from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, the C of E’s official prayerbook, noted for its beautiful and archaic language but largely displaced in recent decades by those seeking a more modern style of worship.
The Queen was said to be devoted to the Book of Common Prayer, along with the hymns and readings chosen personally by the monarch for her funeral.