I know that I express the thoughts and feelings of the people of the Diocese of Down and Dromore, when I say how deeply saddened we have been to hear of the death of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

Her death has taken place, very poignantly, on Easter Eve – the day on which we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This year, because of her death, Easter will have a tinge of sadness.

The Queen Mother was one of the most dearly-loved public figures in our society during the past hundred years. We cannot imagine the Royal Family without her. In times of crisis and in times of joy, she brought stability, warmth and a deep sense of dutifulness. While other things around us changed she was always there, and we almost believed she might be immortal. The fact that she has died at the age of 101 actually makes the loss greater. As we went about our ordinary lives yesterday, and heard of her passing, the words of the funeral service seemed more true than ever: ‘In the midst of life we are in death’.

The Christian faith was of great importance to the Queen Mother, expressed not only in worship, but in many other ways. She took a particular interest in the work of the Church Army, and its commitment to social work and evangelism.

One of my own treasured memories of her was the occasion, in her 99th year, during the Lambeth Conference, when she met with people who had a particular interest in the Church Army. Seeing the words ‘Down and Dromore’, she commented: ‘Down and Dromore…what a lovely name!’ We in this diocese might reply, ‘The Queen Mother, what a truly lovely person’.

Please remember the Royal Family in your prayers during this particularly difficult time in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee year, and also remember the Queen Mother with thanksgiving, and with faith in the Resurrection. As one Easter hymn puts it:

‘whoso dies believing,in thee, dear Lord, dies well'