Statement from Captain Philip Johanson CA, OBE

Chief Secretary of Church Army

It is with great sadness that we have heard of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. We send our deepest sympathy to the Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the Royal family.

The Queen Mother had been Patron of Church Army for sixty years and over all those years Her Majesty had always taken a real and keen interest in our work. It was clear from conversations with the Queen Mother that her interest and knowledge of Church Army was not the result of briefings rather it was borne out of many years of personal interest.

From my conversations with Her Majesty on several occasions it was evident that her Christian faith sustained Her and was central to Her life. The commitment to service on the part of the Queen Mother was more than a sense of duty it was a real Christian vocation and an example to others.

We give thanks to God for the life and example of Her Majesty, for Her devotion to duty and service. The Queen Mother will be greatly missed by many people throughout the world.