Following the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, churches throughout England will want to pray for the Royal Family, most especially Her Majesty The Queen. We give thanks to God for the life of service offered by Prince Philip to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, his championing of causes that now seem vital to our world, his many years of marriage to Her Majesty and the selfless support he gave to her.
Presidents of Churches Together in England, named below, with the support of the Fourth Presidency Group have released the following statement:
“It is with deep sadness that we mourn the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip and offer our prayers for Her Majesty The Queen and every member of the Royal Family. May their faith in Christ, who is the resurrection and the life, be their strength in this loss.”
Presidents of Churches Together in England:
Archbishop Justin Welby, The Archbishop of Canterbury
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster
Revd Dr Hugh Osgood, The Free Churches Moderator
His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London and CTE President for the Orthodox Churches
Pastor Agu Irukwu, head of Redeemed Christian Church of God UK and CTE Pentecostal President
The Fourth Presidency Group comprises Lutheran, Quaker and The Church of Scotland (English Presbytery) Member Churches.
CTE President Archbishop Justin Welby, The Archbishop of Canterbury, has also issued his own statement:
“I join with the rest of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in mourning the loss of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, and give thanks to God for his extraordinary life of dedicated service. Prince Philip continually demonstrated his unfailing support and unstinting loyalty to Her Majesty The Queen for 73 years.
“He consistently put the interests of others ahead of his own and, in so doing, provided an outstanding example of Christian service. During his naval career, in which he served with distinction in the Second World War, he won the respect of his peers as an outstanding officer.
“On the occasions when I met him, I was always struck by his obvious joy at life, his enquiring mind and his ability to communicate to people from every background and walk of life. He was a master at putting people at their ease and making them feel special.
“The legacy he leaves is enormous…”
Read Archbishop Justin Welby’s statement in full.
CTE President Cardinal Vincent Nichols tweeted:
“At this moment of sadness and loss I pray for the repose of the soul of Prince Philip, Her Majesty the Queen’s faithful and loyal husband. I pray for the Queen and all of the Royal Family.
“How much we will miss Prince Philip’s presence and character, so full of life and vigour. He has been an example of steadfast loyalty and duty cheerfully given. May he rest in peace.”
The Church of England, one of CTE’s 50 Member Churches, has also provided the following resources:
- An online book of condolence
- A prayer – available to share on Facebook and Twitter