British monarch Queen Elizabeth II never missed an inaugural meeting of newly-elected Synod officers in her 69-year reign until this year. Despite her absence, she left a message to the Anglican Church confirming her commitment as a Christian.
It was the first meeting for Synod members to meet face-to-face since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. In a message read by her youngest son, Edward the Earl of Wessex, the Queen expressed her thoughts about the pandemic and how it had impacted the world.
She then commended the Church for adapting through societal and technological upheavals.
“Yet the Gospel has brought hope, as it has done throughout the ages, and the Church has adapted and continued its ministry, often in new ways, such as digital forms of worship,” she said.
The 95-year old Queen reflected on the basic tenets of the Church, which successfully have been alive and practiced until now.
“St. Paul reminds us that all Christians are entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, and the deepening of relations across the great Christian traditions has been a continuing priority since the first General Synod in 1970,” she noted.
The Queen did not forget to imply how her late husband Prince Philip actively participated in the Church.
“It is hard to believe that it is over 50 years since Prince Philip and I attended the very first meeting of the General Synod. None of us can slow the passage of time; and while we often focus on all that has changed in the intervening years, much remains unchanged, including the Gospel of Christ and His teachings.”
The Synod is a meeting that takes place every five years. This year’s gathering occurred on November 16. Though it is part of the Queen’s duty to attend such a gathering, she stayed home per the doctor’s advice.
The Anglican Church or the Church of England is the originator and mother of the international Anglican Communion.
Since 2013, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby headed the Church as the most senior cleric. However, the monarch still occupies the topmost position as the supreme governor.
Meanwhile, the media has recently been speculating about the Queen’s health. She was brought into the limelight when sources saw her walking during a social function at Westminster Abbey in London back in October.
She reappeared to visit Scotland earlier this month. After that, she stayed home to rest, according to her medical team.
Sources reported that the strong-willed Queen was reluctant to follow medical advice and showed her commitment to attend planned events. A day later, a spokesperson shared that the monarch spent a night in the hospital but quickly returned to Windsor Castle in ‘good spirits.’