THE example set by Queen Elizabeth II will shape the future, hopes the Bishop of St Asaph, in a letter sent out to churches across north-east and mid-Wales.

The Rt Revd Gregory Cameron described Her Majesty as “perhaps the most influential leader of modern times…whose unstinting service, and quiet compassion…. means that she will forever have made her mark on British history”.

The letter, in Welsh and English, is available to read online.

In a short film to accompany the pastoral letter, Bishop Gregory added that Queen Elizabeth was a woman of “tremendous faith who believed that she found the grace and strength to be able to do the work that she did through God”.

On Sunday (September 18), Bishop Gregory will join with civic leaders from across north-east and mid-Wales in a service of commemoration for Queen Elizabeth II at St Asaph Cathedral.

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The bishop, who will give the address, will be joined by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Clwyd, representatives from the House of Lords, members of parliament and the Senedd, council leaders, and members of the Royal British Legion.

A special edition of the gospel of St John, celebrating the life of Queen Elizabeth II, will be given, as a keepsake, to everyone attending the service.

Editions of the Faithful Servant Gospels are being made available by the Pocket Gospel League.

Also in Bishop Gregory’s pastoral letter, he looks ahead to the reign of His Majesty, King Charles III, whom he has met on several occasions.

He draws a parallel between the new King’s description of the new Prince and Princess of Wales and the example of Jesus.

He said: “When King Charles addressed the nation the other evening, he also said something significant about the work of the new Prince and Princess of Wales.

“He spoke of them ‘helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given’.

“It was our Lord who always, in his ministry, brought people from the edges into the centre of society.

“He reached out to others whom society had rejected, and asserted the importance and value of every single individual.

“If our Royal Family, and our politicians, can live by this principle, then there is hope for the future.”

Today (September 16), Bishop Gregory will travel briefly to London to represent the Church in Wales at an audience with the King at Buckingham Palace, alongside other UK faith leaders.

Churches across the diocese are open for prayer, to light a candle and many have opened books of condolence.

Services of commemoration are taking place in churches and all are warmly welcome to attend.

Among those taking place are:

Saturday, September 17

11am – St Margaret’s Church, Bodelwyddan (The Marble Church): Memorial Service for Her Majesty the Queen

Sunday, September 18

11am – St Mark’s Church, Connah’s Quay: A civic service of commemoration

11am – St Mary’s Church, Mold: A Service of Commemoration

11.30am – St Bartholomew’s Church, Sealand: A Service of Holy Communion remembering the late Queen.

3.30pm – St Asaph Catheral with Bishop Gregory and civic representatives from across north-east and mid Wales.

6pm – St Mary’s Church, Chirk: A service of commemoration

6.30pm – St Giles Church, Wrexham: A Memorial Service for the Queen. The Mayor of Wrexham and civic leaders will be present.

The Diocese of St Asaph is one of the six dioceses of the Church in Wales, an autonomous province of the worldwide Anglican Church.