UK in transition: Four days before she died, the Queen was given a cross…

On Sunday 4 September 2022, the Rev Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland enjoyed lunch with Queen Elizabeth II having pondered: ‘What can you give to the person who has everything?’

He had in mind her material wealth, but the truth is – she was rich beyond measure by reason of the one thing that counted: her steadfast faith in the King of Kings. And it is this faith, so manifestly central to the Queen’s life, that’s now being mentioned numerous times by commentators.

For the majority of observers – at least, those of no faith – references to her deep Christian faith is of little consequence. It’s a ‘thing’, mentioned alongside her love of Corgis, of horseracing, of the Scottish countryside. But little elucidation of what that faith was is given by the press; few if any questions are asked of why her faith was so important to her.

It’s noteworthy how many journalists and commentators – indeed, the public – often talk of Elizabeth II’s faith and of her loyalty, moral life and her good example in the same breath. As Christians, we know true faith without works is dead. Her faith evidently impacted all she did and how she did it. One cannot have true faith in Christ without the outworking of that faith. The Queen was a visible example to the world and her family of what it means to have saving faith.

We’re all familiar with how she spoke of and demonstrated her faith over the decades – she particularly relished, for instance, the chance to evangelise in the few short moments of her annual Christmas Day speech. She spoke often of the strength she derived from her faith; speaking in what was to be her final Christmas Day address on 2021, she spoke of Jesus as the bedrock of her faith. She was unashamed to speak of Jesus Christ.

But these are words; what of the evidence? A number of anecdotes illuminating the authenticity of the Queen’s faith have been told during the period of national mourning.

One chaplain spoke on the BBC of how, during a service, he glanced at the Queen during a prayer being read. With her eyes closed, she was reciting the prayer by heart. He said: ‘I thought to myself – there’s a woman who prays; who probably prays every day.’

Gary Streeter MP said in tribute: ‘If she was the rock on which modern Britain was founded it was because she stood on the true rock, the Rock of Ages.’

Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, has told The Guardian of leaving a meeting with Her Majesty in June: ‘I came away thinking there is someone who has no fear of death, has hope in the future, knows the Rock on which she stands – and that gives her strength.’

From the day she pledged to faithfully serve God and country at her coronation to her final days, the Queen kept her promise and kept her faith, openly speaking of putting her trust in God in the most difficult of times. Fondly recalling his recent visit to the Queen, the Scottish church moderator Iain Greenshields said she had mentioned how important her faith had been to her right through her life.

So what did he give the person who has everything? Dr Greenshields gave her a tactile wooden cross made from recycled church pews by prisoners. His enduring memory? The Queen leaving the room holding that cross. Four days later, she passed into the presence of the One who went to the cross, for her.