As the nation emerges from collective mourning for Her Late Majesty, our Acting Diocesan Bishop and Bishop of Burnley, Rt Rev. Philip North, has issued a short video reflection exploring her legacy of service and faith.

In the video, filmed in front of the Lancashire Jubilee Tapestry art installation by Jamie Holman which is still available to view at Blackburn Cathedral, Bishop Philip says: "I would love to think that people across Lancashire and across the country will reflect on what inspired her life of dedication and will explore who Jesus is, what he came to do and what it means to be in a relationship with Him today."

Watch the full video by clicking on the embedded video above. The full text is also added further below. 

Meanwhile Bishop Philip, alongside the Bishop of Lancaster, Rt Rev. Dr Jill Duff, has also participated in a new act of worship video for use in Church of England schools; circulated by the Diocesan Board of Education immediately after the State Funeral.

Chair of the Board, the Archdeacon of Lancaster, Venerable David Picken, explained today: “This wonderful new video is part of a bespoke package of helpful materials gathered together by our staff at the Board of Education to support our teachers both during, and now after, the 10 days of mourning.

“These resources have helped teachers to work with our children to explain what was happening but also to help them express their feelings and emotions as the country collectively grieved for Her Late Majesty.”

• A link to the full service has been embedded here from YouTube in the Diocesan website news section  

As well as this assistance for schools, all of our Church of England parishes across Lancashire have also been supported by staff at the Diocesan offices with further helpful resources; bespoke for their own settings.

These have included four special editions of the Diocesan ‘Parish Update’ ebulletin (including a final comprehensive round-up of events) and a special ‘landing page’ packed with resources on the Diocesan website.  

Full text of Bishop Philip's video message 

For this message I am standing in Blackburn Cathedral next to an extraordinary art installation made to celebrate 70 years of Her Majesty.

Little did we know just a few weeks ago when we were opening it that the Queen was so close to her death; and now we are thinking and reflecting back after the most extraordinary period of mourning.   

I expect quite a lot of us will need a long time to process our recent experiences. We have seen beautiful scenes of mourning with people queuing on the streets; we have seen incredibly beautiful acts of worship and music. People have really come together and supported each other.   

We have seen a smooth transfer of power and what a gift that is; something never to be taken for granted. And I’m thinking, what will the legacy of this extraordinary life be? What will be the legacy of the Queen’s service?  

Because my prayer is that many will be inspired by her to make their lives a gift and to give themselves away in service of their communities, especially the poorest. And what would be the legacy of her faith; her strong, personal relationship with Jesus Christ?   

I would love to think that people across Lancashire and across the country will reflect on what inspired her life of dedication and will explore who Jesus is, what he came to do and what it means to be in a relationship with Him today.   

I would love to see these two legacies: the legacy of service and the legacy of faith, as we come to the end of 10 remarkable days.

Captions top to bottom

• Bishop Philip in the embedded video reflection on Her Late Majesty 
• Bishop Jill also appears in the special Act of Worship video for schools 
• A portrait of Her Late Majesty The Queen on a table with a Book of Condolence in front of the Lancashire Jubilee Tapestry at Blackburn Cathedral, as featured in the Act of Worship video

Ronnie Semley September 2022