I am not sure that she would be very amused: Queen Victoria’s statue on Rishworth Street in Wakefield is given only a Grade II classification on the website of Historic England. No wonder her expression is so severe.I pass her every morning on my walk into the cathedral, aware of her watchful gaze over the northern boundary of the city’s fine civic quarter.So permanent does the statue of Queen Victoria seem that I was surprised to find out recently that this is the third location in which she has found herself; indeed, she has only been in her present position since 2009.In 2015 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II surpassed Victoria’s record as our longest reigning monarch. This year we celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. It’s one thing for the statue of a long-departed monarch to accommodate itself to change – after all it has no choice about being moved around.It’s quite another for a monarch who is thankfully still very much alive to do so. Her Majesty’s seven decades on the throne have been years of relentless transformation and development across all the nations that make up the United Kingdom. Yet throughout her reign the Queen has proved adept at presiding over a subtle blend of continuity and change within the institution of our monarchy.Like all clergy in the Church of England, I am required to take an oath of allegiance to the monarch every time I begin a new role. This is a reminder that, in addition to being our Head of State, the Queen is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England – a title that goes back to Tudor times.As well as inviting politicians to form governments, the monarch also appoints archbishops and bishops. During the Queen’s reign there have been seven Archbishops of Canterbury. The first of these, Geoffrey Fisher, officiated at her coronation. Fisher was born in 1887, and so provided a remarkable link with the reign of Queen Victoria, Her Majesty’s great great grandmother.There is much that Fisher would recognise in the life of the Church of England today, but much that he could not have foreseen: during the 70 years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, continuity and change have also been evident in the life of the church.At the other end of the civic quarter from Queen Victoria, Wakefield Cathedral watches protectively over the district as it has done for hundreds of years. The Queen memorably visited the cathedral in 2005 for the distribution of the Royal Maundy, and on Saturday at noon we shall be marking and celebrating her seven decades of faithful and dedicated service to the nation in a special Service of Thanksgiving.The Queen’s representative, the Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, and the Bishop of Leeds will both be present at this service. They will be a reminder of the continuity of the link between the monarch and the Church of England. In contrast the interior of the cathedral, which has been completely refurbished and reimagined in the years since Her Majesty’s visit 17 years ago, will be a reminder of the change in the Church’s understanding of the way in which our buildings can be used: not only as places of worship, but also as community assets, as places of welcome and hospitality for people of all faiths and no faith. I have the privilege of being responsible for a building that has been transformed. As a member of Wakefield’s High Street Taskforce, I also have the privilege of working beyond the walls of the cathedral with colleagues across various sectors. Together, we are seeking to transform our city through a Masterplan that offers a bold vision. We want Wakefield to be a place of which its citizens can be proud; a place of secure employment, good housing and a wide range of cultural and creative opportunities; a place which people will want to visit; a place that is distinctive within our city region.What excites me most about Wakefield’s Masterplan is the way in which it recognises the significance of the buildings and the public spaces we already have, but seeks to integrate this historically important civic inheritance into a new cityscape that will embody and enable all that we aspire to achieve, working with all the people of this great city – the oldest in West Yorkshire.We look forward to a great celebration. It will be an opportunity to look back on Queen Elizabeth’s remarkable reign, to celebrate the bonds of affection between communities that she has always herself affirmed in her public role, and to look forward with confidence to all that the future holds. Continuity and change.- The Very Rev Simon Cowling is Dean of Wakefield.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has tested positive for Covid-19 and has also been suffering with mild pneumonia since last week. He will therefore not be preaching at the Service of Thanksgiving for The Queen’s reign at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday this week.The Archbishop (see photo, left) was diagnosed with mild pneumonia on Thursday last week and, under medical advice, was continuing to work but with a reduced schedule to allow for rest and recovery. However after developing symptoms over the weekend the Archbishop tested for coronavirus this morning and confirmed he has Covid-19.Following medical advice and national coronavirus guidance, the Archbishop is resting at home and avoiding contact with others, and has cancelled all engagements this week.Lambeth Palace has informed Buckingham Palace of this news and conveyed the Archbishop’s regret that he will not be able to participate in the service. The Archbishop of York, the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell (see photo, right), will instead preach the sermon in his place.The Archbishop was also due to light a beacon at Lambeth Palace on Thursday evening as part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons events. The Lambeth Palace beacon will be lit on the Archbishop’s behalf instead so that Lambeth Palace can still participate in these celebrations.The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby, said today: “I am deeply saddened to be missing the historic celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. However, I will be praying for The Queen and giving thanks for her extraordinary seventy years of service to us all. I will also be praying for our nation at this time of celebration and thanksgiving. May The Queen’s example bring us together in unity and care for one another.“For those attending Friday’s service at St Paul’s Cathedral, and the millions watching on television, I hope this joyful occasion will inspire us with The Queen’s profound commitment to fostering unity and peace among all people – and to promoting care for the natural world that God has given us. Led by the love of Jesus Christ, The Queen has lived her life for the benefit of others: l pray we find inspiration from Her Majesty over the Jubilee weekend and long into the future.“Meanwhile as we continue to live with coronavirus, I pray too for all those who are still suffering and everyone who continues to mourn loved ones they have lost during the pandemic. May you each know the love and comfort of God.”“As we prepare to celebrate the first Platinum Jubilee in our nation’s history, may God save The Queen, and bless her with the knowledge of our profound love and gratitude for her service to us all.”
