Church of Scotland priest Iain Greenshields emphasized Queen Elizabeth II’s “deep ties” to her country and people in his homily during a service of prayer and reflection for the queen at St Giles’ Cathedral on Monday.
In Scotland “we gratefully acknowledge her deep ties to our land and its people. Her love of the Balmoral estate is well known and being there of late has brought her great comfort,” he said.
“There she was valued as a neighbor and friend and there she drew strength and renewal during the summer months,” he added.
“She was active in the life of urban Scotland traveling across the country to support many causes, entertaining guests at Holyrood Palace and presiding over ceremonial events, many of which took place in this church,” Greenshields said, adding that when the queen received the crown of Scotland in 1953.
“Her links with the churches of Scotland were also deep and lasting. The supreme ruler of the Church of England, she worshiped in the Church of Scotland when north of the border at Canongate Kirk and especially at Crathie Kirk where she took her pew every Sunday morning, she was only prevented from doing so last time by infirmity,” he added. .
Greenshields is the current Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Towards the end of the service, the national anthem, God Save The King, was sung.
