All faiths and denominations feature in the funeral of the Queen
The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey today features an unprecedented procession of 10 leaders of major faith traditions and many representatives of Christian denominations who will lead the prayers. This highlights Queen Elizabeth’s interest in, and commitment to, interfaith dialogue and Christian ecumenism. Representatives of charities and the NHS have been chosen to attend the funeral, recognising their work for the common good. And her family is united in the Abbey, with Prince George and Princess Charlotte joining the funeral procession. Catherine Pepinster offers a guide to the order of service which is online here
State funerals are steeped in tradition, but not everything goes to plan
Rosie Dawson reports on the history of royal funerals and how new customs and personal touches sometimes owe more to chance than careful planning. Read more here >>
A week of national mourning: the most significant religion-related event in the UK for a century?
Dr Chris Cotter from the Open University suggests the emotional trauma on display during this week of national mourning shows a search for certainty often manifested by religious quests. This, coupled with overtly religious elements such as services and rituals, marks a shift. Something has changed. Read more here
Pilgrims Process: all faiths and none queue to pay tribute to their Queen
Catherine Pepinster’s reflection on The Queue, when 750,000 people lined up to file past the Queen’s coffin to pay respects. “It was not the grandeur that was so startling. It was the full enveloping silence.”
King Charles invites faith leaders to the palace seven days after becoming King
One of the King’s first audiences was a gathering of faith leaders at Buckingham Palace, pointing to his long-documented fascination with faith. Speakers at an RMC briefing suggested he believed that a commitment to an ultimate reality could not be accommodated by any one religion. The briefing is reported here
