Grace Thompson
Queen Elizabeth II was a committed Christian and an ardent churchgoer. She was a supporter of tolerance in a multifaith United Kingdom. She respected all faiths, seeing them as a force for good in the world and a way of bringing communities together. She also encouraged dialogue and tolerance among different Christian churches. However, since the 16th century, monarchs have sworn to maintain the Church of England, and since 1689, a bill has been in force that forbids Catholics from ascending the throne.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religion | Christian |
| Church | Church of England |
| Role | Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England |
| Attends Church | Yes |
| Refers to religion in speeches | Yes |
| Involvement in charities | National Churches Trust, The Boys' Brigade and the YMCA |
| First Sovereign to inaugurate and address the General Synod | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
- Queen Elizabeth II was a faithful Christian and an ardent church member
- The Church of England, which the Queen heads, broke with Roman Catholicism in the 16th century
- The Queen respected all faiths, seeing them as a force for good and a way of bringing communities together
- The Queen was involved with many faith-based charities, including the National Churches Trust, The Boys' Brigade, and the YMCA
- The Queen was the first sovereign to inaugurate and address the General Synod, the legislative body of the Church of England
Queen Elizabeth II was a faithful Christian and an ardent church member
Queen Elizabeth II was a faithful Christian and an ardent churchgoer. She openly declared herself a believer and attended church whenever possible. She was also involved with many faith-based charities, including the National Churches Trust, The Boys' Brigade, and the YMCA.
The Queen's role as "Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England" was an important element of her role as a monarch and a deeply personal part of her life. She respected all faiths, seeing them as a force for good in the world and a way of bringing communities together. On many occasions, she spoke openly about the strength she drew from her Christian faith and often turned to the teachings of the Bible during difficult moments in her life and the life of the nation.
Every Maundy Thursday, the day Christians commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus, the Queen distributed special Maundy money to local pensioners. For many years, she visited a different cathedral or abbey for each service, travelling across the UK. In 2020, during the Covid pandemic, the Queen recorded a special Easter broadcast for the only time in her reign when she was unable to attend the Royal Maundy service in person.
In 1970, Queen Elizabeth II became the first sovereign to inaugurate and address the General Synod, the legislative body of the Church of England, in person. Since then, she inaugurated and addressed the opening session of the General Synod every five years after diocesan elections.
Queen Elizabeth II is also credited with mending the divide between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church. As part of her Silver Jubilee in 1977, she visited Westminster Roman Catholic Cathedral, becoming the first English monarch to visit a Roman Catholic cathedral since the Reformation. She also met with Pope John XXIII in Rome in 1961 and received Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI on their visits to the UK in 1982 and 2010, respectively.
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The Church of England, which the Queen heads, broke with Roman Catholicism in the 16th century
The Church of England, which Queen Elizabeth II headed before her death, broke with Roman Catholicism in the 16th century. This event was part of the wider European Reformation, which saw various religious and political movements that affected both the practice of Christianity in Western and Central Europe and the relationship between church and state.
The English Reformation began when King Henry VIII requested an annulment of his marriage to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, in 1527. However, Pope Clement VII refused to grant this request. In response, the Reformation Parliament (1529-1536) passed laws abolishing papal authority in England, and Henry was declared the head of the Church of England. This marked the beginning of the break between the Church of England and the Catholic Church.
Henry VIII's daughter, Mary I, attempted to restore Roman Catholicism in England during her reign. However, she died childless in 1558, and her Protestant half-sister, Elizabeth I, became queen. Elizabeth declared herself the "'Supreme Governor' of the Church of England and established an English Protestant church, later named the Elizabethan Religious Settlement, which evolved into the modern Church of England.
Since Elizabeth I, the royal family has practised Anglicanism, a form of Christianity that broke away from Catholicism. The current monarch, King Charles III, is acknowledged as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, with the Archbishop of Canterbury as the head cleric.
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The Queen respected all faiths, seeing them as a force for good and a way of bringing communities together
Queen Elizabeth II was a faithful Christian and an ardent churchgoer. She openly declared herself a believer and attended church whenever possible. She was the Supreme Governor and Defender of the Faith of the Church of England, which broke with Roman Catholicism in the 16th century.
The Queen's role as "Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England" was an important element of her role as Monarch and a deeply personal part of her life. She respected all faiths, seeing them as a force for good in the world and a way of bringing communities together. She often referred to her faith in her annual Christmas broadcasts, reflecting on events and expressing more personal views.
At her coronation in 1953, the Queen was anointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and took an oath to "maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in England". In 1970, she became the first sovereign to inaugurate and address the General Synod, the legislative body of the Church of England, in person. Every Maundy Thursday, the day on which Christians commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus, the Queen distributed special Maundy money to local pensioners.
The Queen was involved with many faith-related charities, including the National Churches Trust, The Boys' Brigade, and the YMCA. She also played a part in healing the historic rift between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church. As part of her Silver Jubilee in 1977, she visited Westminster Roman Catholic Cathedral, the first visit to a Roman Catholic cathedral by an English monarch since the Reformation. She also met with Pope John XXIII in Rome in 1961 and received Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI on their visits to the UK in 1982 and 2010, respectively.
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The Queen was involved with many faith-based charities, including the National Churches Trust, The Boys' Brigade, and the YMCA
The late Queen Elizabeth II was a committed Christian and the UK's Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Her Christian faith played a significant role in her life, and she often turned to the Bible in difficult times. She respected all faiths, viewing them as a positive force in the world that brings communities together.
The Queen was involved with numerous faith-based charities, including the National Churches Trust, a registered charity in the UK. The Trust aims to preserve and support churches of historical, architectural, and community value across the country. It provides financial grants for repairs and modernisation, collaborates with local Churches Trusts, and promotes public awareness of churches' needs. The Trust supports churches of all denominations and works with a network of Local Churches Trusts.
Another charity the Queen was involved with is The Boys' Brigade, a charity providing opportunities for children and young people to learn and grow in a safe and fun Christian environment. Over 20,000 young people participate in their activities each week, which include camping, kayaking, music, crafts, and first aid.
The Queen also supported the YMCA, which was founded in London in 1844 and has grown into a global organisation serving over 64 million people in 120 countries. The YMCA strengthens communities by helping people learn, grow, and thrive, driving positive social change and providing individual support to people of all ages and backgrounds.
These charities reflect the Queen's dedication to faith-based organisations and her commitment to community development and support for people of all faiths.
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The Queen was the first sovereign to inaugurate and address the General Synod, the legislative body of the Church of England
The Queen of England, Elizabeth II, is a committed Christian and the 'Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England'. In 1953, she was anointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and took an oath to "maintain and preserve [...] the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in England".
In 1970, Queen Elizabeth II became the first sovereign to inaugurate and address the General Synod, the legislative body of the Church of England, in person. The General Synod is managed by 108 Bishops and meets twice annually in London or York to consider legislation for the good of the Church. The Synod passes ecclesiastical regulations called Canons, which bind the clergy and laity of the Church, and are submitted to the Queen for promulgation by Royal Licence. Since 1970, Queen Elizabeth II has inaugurated and addressed the opening session of the General Synod every five years after diocesan elections. In 2010, she spoke at the opening of the General Synod of the Church of England, quoting the carol, 'In the Bleak Midwinter'.
The Queen has been involved with many faith-related charities, including the National Churches Trust, The Boys' Brigade, and the YMCA. She has also distributed special Maundy money to local pensioners every Maundy Thursday, the day on which Christians commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Queen Elizabeth II is not Catholic. She is a committed Christian and the "Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England". She encouraged dialogue and tolerance among different Christian churches and other religions.
Yes, Mary I of England was a Catholic monarch who tried to eliminate Protestantism from English society. Her half-sister and successor, Elizabeth I, was a Protestant who re-established Protestantism as the official religion of England.
Yes, Queen Elizabeth II has met with several popes during her reign. She had a private audience with Pope Pius XII in 1951, two years before she ascended the throne. She also met with Pope John XXIII, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis during her reign.
