Elizabeth the Christian Queen has helped keep the faith alive

„Since the Queen ascended to the throne, churchgoing in Britain has more than halved; the Churches as institutions have suffered far greater damage than the monarchy. Indeed, this country's overtly Christian royal ceremonies have held off the moment that the faith in Britain becomes as residual and meaningless as it has in parts of Europe.

The anxiety for Christians is that this effect depends on the personal convictions of Elizabeth II, who is not only more pious than her children but has also taken her religious duties more seriously than many of her predecessors. If the British monarchy of the future recasts itself as a mere guarantor of religious liberty – as Prince Charles seems to envisage – then the secularisation of public life will be complete.

That's a miserable prospect, in my opinion, but not one we should dwell on today. For 60 years, the Queen has defended not »faith« in the abstract but the revelations of Christianity. That she has done so in such an unassuming and gentle manner makes her witness no less powerful.”