The funeral of Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey today concluded eleven days of national mourning.
Among the 2,000 members of the congregation were representatives from eight different UK religions, besides representatives of many Christian denominations, including senior Catholic bishops.
The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Leo Cushley, and the Archbishop of Cardiff, Mark O’Toole, were part of a procession of Church leaders from each nation of the United Kingdom.
The Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin, attended as part of the delegation from Churches in Northern Ireland. In a statement issued before the funeral, he described an “outpouring of affection and genuine respect from right across the island of Ireland” which he hoped “has helped to strengthen relationships and mutual understanding between our communities”.
“I will be praying at the funeral in Westminster Abbey that the efforts of Queen Elizabeth, and of so many others who took risks for our peace, will not be forgotten, or allowed to slip away. Many of these peacemakers have now gone to their rest. The work of peace, however, remains unfinished and urgent – and it is up to all of us to play our part.”
Delivering the sermon, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: “The pattern for many leaders is to be exalted in life and forgotten after death. The pattern for all who serve God – famous or obscure, respected or ignored – is that death is the door to glory.”
The congregation in Westminster Abbey was composed of heads of state from the Commonwealth and around the world, with Pope Francis represented by Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Holy See’s secretary for relations with states.
Other prominent Catholics taking part in the service included Baroness Scotland of Asthal KC, the secretary-general of the Commonwealth, who delivered the first lesson, from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. She read from the passage in the King James Version which asks: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)
The choir was under the direction of James O’Donnell, Westminster Abbey’s organist and master of choristers, who was master of music at Westminster Cathedral until 2000. They sang Psalm 42, “Like as the hart desireth water-brooks: so longeth my soul after thee, O God”, in a composition by Judith Weir, the master of the Queen’s music. The prime minister, Liz Truss, read the second lesson from the account of the Last Supper in John’s gospel.
The hymns and readings accorded with Anglican customs and the Queen’s wishes. The congregations sang “The day though gavest, Lord, is ended” by John Ellerton and “Love divine, all loves excelling” by Charles Wesley, both in arrangements by Mr O’Donnell.
The choir sang an anthem specially composed by Sir James MacMillan, on a text from Paul’s letter to the Romans: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans 8:35)
Cardinal Nichols was among the ecumenical guests who led prayers during the service, including the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Iain Greenshields, and the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally.
The cardinal offered thanks “for Queen Elizabeth’s commitment to the Commonwealth throughout her reign”. He prayed for inspiration for those in authority, “that they may promote justice and the common good”, and for “the spirit of mutual honour and respect” between the citizens of the Commonwealth.
The closing prayers of the service included the words of the metaphysical poet and sometime Catholic John Donne, which ask for admittance to heaven “where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; no noise nor silence, but one equal music; no fears nor hopes, but one equal possession; no ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity”.
At the Queen's committal in St George's Chapel, Windsor, the Minister of Crathie Kirk, the Chaplain of Windsor Great Park, and the Rector of Sandringham – where the Queen was a parishioner when resident in Balmoral, Windsor and Norfolk respectively – said prayers over the coffin. The Rector of Sandringham, Canon Paul Williams, read a prayer by St John Henry Newman:
“O Lord, support us all the day long of this troublous life, until the shades lengthen and the evening comes, the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over and our work is done; then Lord, in thy mercy, grant us safe lodging, a holy rest, and peace at last.”
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