News of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, comes as a great sadness and shock to us all.  Our prayers are with her eldest son and successor, King Charles and all her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and family members in their grief.   Uniquely, our late Queen was loved by peoples and nations all over the world.  We share in that love not because of her fame or fortune, but because we have been constantly reminded through her words and deeds, of her love for us. 

From the Book of Common Prayer, prayers have been said annually on the anniversary of the Accession of our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth upon the throne.  These words are among them:   

'Let thy wisdom be her guide, and let thine arm strengthen her; let truth and justice, holiness and righteousness, peace and charity, abound in her days; direct all her counsels and endeavours to thy glory, and the welfare of her subjects; give us grace to obey her cheerfully for conscience sake, and let her always possess the hearts of her people; let her reign be long and prosperous, and crown her with everlasting life in the world to come, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.'

For many of us, we have known no other Sovereign.  She has, in so many ways, been an answer to our prayers through her dedication and Christian witness.            St Martin’s will be holding a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of the late Queen Elizabeth II at 10.30 am on Sunday.  All are welcome.


The church will be open from 9am to 7pm during the period of mourning.