As I look back on the year that is now drawing to a close, one moment stands out, full of impact and resonance. On 8 September, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died. On that day, we mourned the loss of a unique and gracious mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. We cherished her life of unstinting service, her example of devotion to duty, her steadfast witness of faith in Jesus Christ and his promises.
From the moment of her death carpets of flowers, messages and mementoes grew by the day. People lined our roads to pay their respects as her coffin passed by. It is estimated that half of the population of the world watched the funeral service from Westminster Abbey. But the four days during which more than 350,000 people queued, for up to fourteen hours, to honour the late Queen at her lying-in-state in Westminster Hall were the most telling.
