It is with the most profound sadness that we, the Officers, Elders, Members and Friends of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster have learned of the death of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was the inspiration of many and an example to all. We acknowledge the goodness of God toward her, in sparing her to reign over us for these past 70 years. We thank God for her unfailing dedication to her duties as Queen. We recognize the Lord’s grace in assisting her to undertake those responsibilities. We bow to the Lord’s wisdom in taking her from us at this time; “the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21).
As a denomination, we wish to assure the Royal Family of our prayers. Scripture commands us so to do. May the members of the Royal household know the grace and assistance of the One who is described as “the God of all comfort” (2 Cor 1:3).
We call on all people of the Realm to consider, that in the words of Scripture, “we must needs die” (2 Samuel 14:14). As death has come to Her Majesty so it will come to us all. However, in the death of Queen Elizabeth, a human Sovereign, we are reminded of the death of the great Sovereign, the Lord Jesus Christ. He, the Son of God and perfect man, laid down His life at Calvary on behalf of sinners, to pay the price of sin. To those who receive Him through repentance and faith, He provides eternal life. At this time of mourning the death of Her Majesty, we appeal to men and women to consider their own mortality and make that most necessary preparation for the great eternity.
Rev John Armstrong, Moderator
Rev Samuel Murray, Deputy Moderator
Rev John Greer, Clerk of Presbytery
Statement to be read in churches on 11th September 2022
“It was with the deepest sadness on Thursday evening 8th September 2022 that the ministers and ruling elders and members of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster learned of the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
As a Church we lament the passing of a monarch who ruled for over seventy years with dignity, wisdom, and diligence. We thank God for her exemplary, personal, public, conduct as a monarch, and for the stability that she brought to our nation over the seven decades of her illustrious reign. As a denomination, we express to the Royal Household our sincerest sympathy. Scripture, in 1 Timothy chapter 2, commands the Christian Church to pray “…for kings and for all that are in authority.” Therefore, we will be interceding for Her Majesty’s family, praying that the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort will impart to their hearts the true consolation of the grace of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
At her coronation service on June 2nd , 1953, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, presented the new Queen with a copy of the Scriptures and said, ‘Our gracious Queen: to keep your Majesty ever mindful of the Law and the Gospel of God as the Rule for the whole life and government of Christian Princes, we present you with this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords.’
It is still the Holy Bible that carries the infallible message of God for the Royal family, our nation, and the entire Commonwealth. True comfort in life and in death, is found in Christ Jesus alone. The gospel declares, ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish but have everlasting life.’
