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Primate’s letter to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

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Published on 
September 8, 2015

On Sept. 9, Queen Elizabeth II will officially become the longest reigning British monarch, surpassing Queen Victoria who reigned for 63 years and 216 days. In the following open letter, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, thanks the Queen for her years of service to the Commonwealth.

August 27, 2015

Her Majesty The Queen
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA
United Kingdom

Your Majesty,

On behalf of The Anglican Church of Canada I extend congratulations as you become the longest reigning monarch in the history of England. Along with so many others throughout the Commonwealth, Canadians give thanks for your unwavering devotion to your peoples, your holiness of life and all your good works in the interests of the common good and of peace and concord among the nations.

With this greeting come our very best wishes and the assurance of our prayers, week by week, for you and all the Royal Family. May God bless and keep you in good health and in all happiness of life.

Respectfully yours,

Signature - Fred

The Most Rev. Fred J. Hiltz
Primate

View a PDF version of the Primate’s letter to the Queen.

Acknowledging the land and God’s creation

This acknowledgement is crafted in light of the Principles of Reconciliation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, as we seek to live faithfully in Christ and in right relationship with all. 

We give thanks to the Creator for this land, its waters, forests and all living beings, and for the abiding presence of Christ among us. From coast to coast to coast, these have been cared for and nurtured by First Nations, Inuit and Métis through countless generations. 

We honour the enduring relationship Indigenous Peoples have cultivated with these lands and waters, and the treaties and agreements that reflect these sacred bonds. We acknowledge the harms caused by colonial expansion, through frameworks like the Doctrine of Discovery and structures like the residential school system. We recognize our past failures as a Church, including disruption of connections to the land and suppression of Indigenous spiritualities. 

Guided by the gospel of Jesus Christ, we confess our need for healing. We commit ourselves to seeking truth, pursuing reconciliation and nurturing harmony with all creation. We place our trust in Christ, through whom all things are reconciled to God. 

May God strengthen us to live faithfully as stewards of the Earth. Let us walk in love, justice and reconciliation, joining in God’s work to restore all creation.