Sarah Mitchell
Queen Elizabeth II, the former Queen of England, was a practising Christian and a member of the Church of England. She was the Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England, a role that was an important element of her position as a monarch and a deeply personal part of her life. She was a committed Christian, often referring to her faith in her annual Christmas broadcasts. She encouraged dialogue and tolerance among different Christian churches and with other religions. She also met with several popes during her reign, including Pope Pius XII, Pope John XXIII, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current Queen of England | Elizabeth II |
| Religion | Christian |
| Church | Church of England |
| Title | Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England |
| Relationship with Catholic Church | Met with Pope Pius XII in 1951, Pope John XXIII, Pope John Paul II in 1980 and 2000, Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, and Pope Francis in 2014 |
| Relationship with Jewish Faith | Protected small Jewish communities in Britain |
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What You'll Learn
Queen Elizabeth II is a practising Christian
Queen Elizabeth II is the head of the Church of England, a position she assumed when she became Queen. However, her Christian faith has been evident throughout her life, in her words and actions. In her first Christmas broadcast in 1952, she said:
> Pray for me … that God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making, and that I may faithfully serve Him and you, all the days of my life.
The Queen worships privately each Sunday and relies on the prayers of her people. In 1992, in a speech to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession, she thanked all those who had prayed for her and said that those prayers ‘sustained me through all these years’.
Her personal faith also prompts her to work for peace and reconciliation internationally and in her own family. In 2011, she said:
> Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It can heal broken families, it can restore friendships and it can reconcile divided communities. It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God’s love.
In 2008, the Queen said:
> I hope that, like me, you will be comforted by the example of Jesus of Nazareth who, often in circumstances of great adversity, managed to live an outgoing, unselfish and sacrificial life … He makes it clear that genuine human happiness and satisfaction lie more in giving than receiving; more in serving than in being served.
Mark Greene, Mission Champion at the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, said:
> It was the Queen’s steadfast faith in Jesus that made all the difference to her mighty reign.
Based on her Christian faith, the Queen encouraged dialogue and tolerance among different Christian churches and with other religions.
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The monarch is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England
Queen Elizabeth II, the former Queen of England, was a practising member of the Church of England and a committed Christian. She was known to attend church whenever possible and often referred to her faith in her annual Christmas broadcasts. She also spoke openly about the strength she derived from her Christian faith and turned to the teachings of the Bible during difficult times.
The monarch's titular role in the Church of England involves formally appointing high-ranking members of the church on the advice of the UK prime minister. The Church of England is a state church, and senior bishops, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, sit in the House of Lords. The monarch is also involved in the coronation service, which includes the participation of Church of England clergy.
Since the 16th century, the monarch has held the title of "Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England". This role is an important element of the monarch's position and a deeply personal part of their life. The monarch has the responsibility to maintain and preserve the settlement of the Church of England and its doctrines, worship, discipline, and government, as established by law in England.
In contrast, when in Scotland, the monarch is merely an ordinary member of the Church of Scotland, which is the state church in Scotland. The monarch does not hold a leadership position in the Church of Scotland and is not its head.
Queen Elizabeth II worked to foster tolerance and dialogue among different Christian churches and other religions. She met with several popes during her reign, including Pope Pius XII, Pope John XXIII, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis. These efforts contributed to improving relations between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, which had a complicated history due to religious divisions in the United Kingdom.
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The Queen's role in the Church of Scotland
The current Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, is not Catholic. She is the head of the Church of England, which is part of the Anglican Communion. The Queen has an important and distinct constitutional relationship with the Church of Scotland, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries.
The Church of Scotland is a Presbyterian church and recognises only Jesus Christ as "King and Head of the Church". Therefore, the Queen does not hold the title "Supreme Governor" of the Church of Scotland; when attending Church services in Scotland, she does so as an ordinary member. The Church of Scotland is entirely self-governing and has a distinct structure. It is managed on a local level by kirk sessions, at a district level by presbyteries, and at a national level by the General Assembly, which comprises 850 commissioners and meets each May, generally in Edinburgh.
The Sovereign, currently Queen Elizabeth II, is represented at the General Assembly by the Lord High Commissioner, who attends as an observer and is appointed by Her Majesty on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Lord High Commissioner's role is to maintain the relationship between the State and the Church, and this position has been held by members of the Royal Family in the past. The Queen, along with the Duke of Edinburgh, has addressed the General Assembly on several occasions, most recently in 2002.
The Queen's relationship with the Church of Scotland was symbolised by a Service of Dedication in St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh on 24 June 1953, three weeks after the Coronation. During this ceremony, Her Majesty was blessed by the Dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. As Head of the Nation and Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II also acknowledges and celebrates other faiths in the UK and throughout the Commonwealth.
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The Queen's meetings with the Pope
Queen Elizabeth II, the current Queen of England, is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, the Anglican Church. Since the 16th century, English monarchs have held the titles Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England. As such, the Queen is not Catholic.
Queen Elizabeth II has made seven visits to the Vatican during her reign and met with five different popes.
Pope Pius XII
In 1951, two years before she took the throne, Princess Elizabeth met with Pope Pius XII. This was the first time a pope had met with a British sovereign since 1531, when Pope Clement VII met with King Henry VIII.
Pope John XXIII
In 1961, Queen Elizabeth II had a private audience with Pope John XXIII, becoming only the second reigning monarch of the U.K. to visit with any pope. She met with him again in 1962 during a state visit to the Italian Republic.
Pope John Paul II
Queen Elizabeth II paid her first state visit to the Holy See in 1980 to meet with Pope John Paul II. She met with him again in 1982 during his pastoral visit to Great Britain, and in 2000 during another state visit.
Pope Benedict XVI
In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI became the first pope to make an official visit to the United Kingdom. He met with Queen Elizabeth II at her official residence in Scotland, the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Pope Francis
In 2014, Queen Elizabeth II met with Pope Francis at the Vatican. This meeting commemorated 100 years of renewed diplomatic relations between the two sovereign states.
Other Meetings with the Pope
Other members of the British royal family have also met with various popes.
King Charles III
Then-Prince Charles met Pope Francis in 2019, ahead of the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman. When he was Prince of Wales, he met Pope John Paul II in 1985, Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, and Pope Francis in 2014.
Camilla, Queen Consort
Then-Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, met Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 and Pope Francis in 2014.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip met Pope John Paul II in 1980 and 2000, and Pope Francis in 2014.
Princess Margaret
Princess Margaret met Pope Pius XII in 1953 and Pope John XXIII in 1959.
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
Prince Richard met Pope Francis in 2014.
Princess Diana
Princess Diana met Pope John Paul II in 1985.
Prince Michael of Kent
Prince Michael of Kent met Pope John Paul II in 1985.
Katharine, Duchess of Kent
Katharine, Duchess of Kent, met Pope John Paul II in 1994.
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The Queen's involvement with faith-based charities
Queen Elizabeth II, the current Queen of England, is not Catholic. In fact, she is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, an Anglican faith. However, she ascended to the throne at a time of deep religious divisions and worked to bring tolerance between different Christian churches and other religions.
The Queen was involved with numerous charities during her reign, including faith-based organisations. She was the patron of over 600 charities, including six Christian organisations. The Queen was also involved with the Church Urban Fund, an organisation supporting faith-based social action in England's poorest communities. She was also involved with the CCJ, a forum for Christian-Jewish engagement, which celebrates the history and diversity of both communities.
The Queen was also involved with the Bible Society, which works to make the Bible available and understood worldwide. SPCK, another organisation the Queen supported, communicates the Christian faith to help people develop their personal faith through publishing Christian books and running evangelistic projects in schools and prisons.
In addition to her work with Christian charities, the Queen was also involved with NHS Charities Together, an umbrella organisation for good causes related to the health service. She also supported Cancer Research UK and the British Red Cross.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Queen Elizabeth II was a practising member of the Church of England, also known as the Anglican Church.
The monarch is the "Supreme Governor" of the Church of England and is involved in appointing high-ranking members of the church.
Yes, Queen Elizabeth II met with several Popes during her reign. In 1951, she met with Pope Pius XII, and in 1961, she had an audience with Pope John XXIII. She also met Pope John Paul II in 1980 and 2000, Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, and Pope Francis in 2014.
