Festus
Her late Majesty’s demise raised the age-old problem in the Church of England about prayers for the dead. As a result, the official guidance was characteristically Anglican and unclear. A number of cathedrals with their liturgical banner aloft put on a ‘Requiem Eucharist’. This was even the case at York Minster where Archbishop Cottrell donned a blue chasuble and white mitre for it.
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As existential as ‘what to do’ was the ‘what to wear’ question. A number of mourning bands made an appearance, such as adorning Prebendary Houlding and Archdeacon Miller for the first St Paul’s service the day after the death was announced and which began the country’s observance of public mourning. But other confusions needed clarity. Should a tricorn be worn for the Proclamation? Weepers (on sleeves) must be unpressed, oughtn’t they? And then the black armbands, usually worn on ‘street clothes’ (so a jacket, coat, or cassock) but on top of a rochet (as seen on many bishops, notably at the Accession Council and in NI) or surplice, was a true conundrum.
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The St Paul’s service included a sermon from the Bishop of London who is also Dean of the Chapels Royal. Some hesitant delivery (due to dyslexia, we understand) found the obvious hurdle of pronouncing ‘Khalil Gibran’ to be an issue, and ‘accession day’ equally troublesome which the autogenerated caption relayed as ‘Ascension Day’. Speaking of Her late Majesty and her loss which the caption gave as ‘hair loss’ was even less felicitous. ‘Because I am a Christian, I believe…’ she proclaimed, fairly obvious from the pulpit. And all faiths and none, but the inclusion of Lebanese-US mystic Gibran who died in 1931 struck a New Age note. The Archbishop of Armagh in Belfast a few days later went for John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, and Justin Welby for the funeral sermon chose words of HM herself, from her famous ‘Covid broadcast’.
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As the great queue for the Lying-in-State moved slowly alongside the River Thames, it passed St John’s, Waterloo, where the Rev Cn Richard Truss was vicar for 15 years until his retirement in 2008. Socially minded and passionate about the arts, he was also chaplain to the National Theatre, Royal Festival Hall, London Weekend Television, and the Old Vic. His niece, Liz, is now Prime Minister. But back in 2009 when she was selected as Conservative candidate for the South West Norfolk seat, the revelation of her affair with married MP Mark Field caused some local concern and brought out the ‘Turnip Taliban’. Campaigning in the area, Liz got Uncle Richard to come up and meet her for lunch in a prominent spot with a good view for all. Her one instruction was that he should be dressed in clericals. Seems like she knows the value of a clergyman. Liz Truss was elected to parliament the following year with a majority of 13,140.
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The Dean and Canons of Westminster Abbey had splendid new black copes for the occasion. Some may have detected a slight commotion at the back shortly before the service began. Sub-Dean and Canon Treasurer, David Stanton, fainted and had to be taken to St Thomas’s Hospital over the river. Prayers and best wishes for his recovery.
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It has been a time for unbleached candles: in Westminster Hall, in the Abbey, and probably in Buckingham Palace too. Except for St George’s, Windsor. The tell-tale white of its altar candles revealed the plastic version, topped up with oil. Very sensible, and probably fully approved of by Her late Majesty.
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Martin Kenyon died the day before the Queen at the age of 92. He had a moment of fame as one of the first to get a Pfizer jab in December 2020 and was interviewed by CNN. He was also an anti-apartheid campaigner and friend of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The Diocese of Hereford banned Tutu’s daughter from officiating at the funeral. Black, female, ordained – she is also married to a woman. ‘Churlish and hurtful,’ said Ms Tutu van Furth. A ‘difficult situation’ and ‘in line with House of Bishops current guidance on same-sex marriage,’ said the diocese. So the family switched the service from in church to a marquee in the vicarage garden and all went ahead as planned. What testimony.
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Many will remember Fr Christopher Colven from his Walsingham days when he was Administrator of the Shrine 1981-86, Guardian 1985-2001, and Master 1993-9, and headed up SSC for some time. He became a Roman Catholic and recently retired as the Rector of St James, Spanish Place, in Marylebone, choosing Holy Cross Day for his farewell mass – ‘a celebration that has a certain resonance for Father Christopher, since in his Anglican days he was Master of the Society of the Holy Cross, with responsibility for the spiritual care of a good number of Anglo-Catholic clergy,’ said the parish bulletin. How good to see someone who has swum the Tiber not looking back entirely in anger.