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Sermon preached before the Lord Lieutenant during choral evensong at St Mary’s, Nottingham on 5th February 2012 by Rev Stephen Morris.

I should like to make my own small tribute to the Queen on this significant anniversary (some of which can be found in Nottingham in Faith, February 2012) and then go on to highlight and discuss the prominence and status of the Church of England in the light of her vows.

Like most people in the U.K., I can’t remember any other head of this state and even those who can will probably feel that this reign of 60 years marks the most stable (for some even the only stable) fact of public life since the years of austerity and recovery following World War II. It has been a period of massive change to social, economic, technological and educational expectations; to science, travel and music; from the end of Empire to establishment of the EU; a broadening of ‘Faith’ to ‘Faiths’; Suez and ‘the bomb’ to 9/11 and Afghanistan and a constant swell of anti-institutional individualism and globalisation all overseen by a dozen Prime Ministers.

Neither can we remember the Queen actually putting a foot wrong. No gaffs, no discourtesies, no signs of lack of respect; nothing, physically, verbally nor on screen. True, there were the most difficult days following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Who else would have allowed the general public to tell them how to negotiate the trauma of violent death in the family and, with such dignity, negotiate that as well? Without complaint.

This is not to state that the case for democratic monarchy is conclusive. However, it does demonstrate the enormous value to that case of having a monarch who has done so much so well at home, across the Commonwealth and around the world. A monarch who has so publicly declared and kept to her faith and ours, while managing to show a welcome degree of inclusivity towards other faiths and cultures: she deserves tribute because it would not have come easily to everyone. Indeed, as the Queen herself acknowledges, it is the fruit of a God-given grace. We live in days of skepticism towards institutions and, particularly, privilege. It is an age in which public figures and so-called celebrities seem to be lionised merely for us to enjoy their fall. It is often easier to mock and undermine those who are leaders of nations and communities than to do as the New Testament recommends which is to pray for them. Her Majesty was prayed for at her Coronation in Westminster Abbey and, in one way or another, has been prayed for ever since. It seems good to continue to pray for her on this Jubilee of 60 years, collectively to thank God for her devoted service. May every one of us, like the Queen, be so inspired in living up to our own calling.

At her coronation in 1953, following the promise to govern the peoples of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth nations according to their respective laws and customs, the Archbishop asked the Queen the following questions:

“Will you, to your power, cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgments . . . maintain the Laws of God and true profession of the Gospel . . . maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law . . . maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine, worship and government thereof, as by law established in England, and will you preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of the Church of England, and to the Churches committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges, as by law do or shall appertain to them or any of them?” The Queen replied, “All this I promise to do.” and proceeded to the altar and signed the oath.

I make no qualifications to my words of thankfulness and indeed admiration for what the Coronation service describes as the Queen’s Christian ministry. But I must address the reality that every institution has changed since her accession and none more so than the Church of England - as has the context in which we minister that ‘Gospel of God’. 1950s, post-war Europe experienced quite a swelling of church attenders and sympathizers partly because it was regarded as something of a bastion against the recurrence of fascism, communism and other perceived threats as well as offering a return to the comparative peace and stability of life pre-war. But much of what lies behind the questions asked by the Archbishop is not only about establishment; it is also about privilege.

It happens to be my experience and conviction that the teachings of the Christian Gospel, as mediated by the Church of England, have long provided great benefit to the democracy, tolerance, development and prosperity of this nation. But it can easily be argued that sometimes that has not been true. Sometimes it has been privilege which has been pursued rather than the humble obligations that are essential to avoid neglecting or abusing the Church’s role as part of the Establishment. We are called to be salt and light for the Gospel of love. If we are no longer salt or light then, according to our Lord Himself, we are not fit but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot.

So, it is not difficult to find on Google the expression of surprise that Her Majesty’s vows are so explicitly Christian or to find comments that such promises, reinforcing privilege, could/should not be required again. It seems to me that if future repetition of the Coronation Vow is challenged, it would be justifiable for the Church to argue in its favour but only on the explicit basis of servanthood rather than of privilege; as a facilitator of the common good (including those of other faiths) rather than of advantage or prestige; as Christ’s advocate for the poor and marginalized rather than for its own comfort. To be an Established Church is not our automatic right, never to be challenged, so perhaps our prayer should be that the Church is of such value to the nation that it is worthy of the privilege.

And it’s great to be able to say there are some wonderfully sacrificial ministries, lay and ordained, even in our own City and County. There are imaginative and productive initiatives which are often, and best, carried out ecumenically and sometimes with interfaith and secular participation. This very moment, just such an initiative, the Nottingham Winter Shelter, is supporting some very vulnerable people just down the road at St Saviour’s in the Meadows as it has done for the last 3 winters. Indeed, the historic rootedness of the Church of England - and even its very establishment, at least in the hearts and minds of more people than is usually supposed - mean it is often accorded trusted status by those of other folds. It also, frankly, has more historic resources to facilitate ecumenical and inter-faith work as a consequence of its embeddedness in English life and culture. Its members make it the largest volunteer community in the country who contribute extensively to more work with young and old people than any other, partly because it is so rooted in every parish.

For all that, the Church has a mission and some of it is unpopular. In fact, if it isn’t sometimes unpopular, then it isn’t carrying out the prophetic role of its Master, Jesus, who called people to repentance and to radically altered priorities and ways of life. Prophetic roles do not guarantee popularity or votes and therefore, in democracies, need to be weighed, heeded and honoured for their own sake. True, there is always a risk, shown time and time again, that prophets can be tamed by Establishments and the Church must guard against that. But there will always be prophets and it may be better for everyone that they be given access and be heeded for their loving wisdom as of right, that is, from within a democratic Establishment, rather than from outside where they can become mascots and martyrs for more sinister causes.

A principal purpose of having a constitutional monarch is to prevent anyone else being head of state. In much the same way, if the Church of England were not Established and able to represent Faiths in our plural society, are we prepared for what may take its place?

May God bless Her Majesty in her continuing Christian, princely ministry and the Church whom she has promised to defend; may all those whose task is to serve both her and God find strength, courage and wisdom to do so in all godliness, love and peace.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

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