This sermon is preached on the Anniversary of the Day of the Accession of the Reigning Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II, 6 Feb. 2016. Gavin says, "Firstly I shall make some specific reference to Accession Day and its Protestant Christian significance." "About 5 months ago ... the legally Protestant Queen Elizabeth II became the longest reigning monarch in British history. She is one of only 3 monarchs of the British Isles whose reign has reached to 60 regnal years. ... King George III ... reigned from 1760 to 1820, and he died during his 60th regnal year. Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901, and she died during her 64th regnal year. But since 9 September 2015, Queen Elizabeth II, whose reign commenced on 6 February 1952, is now the longest reigning monarch in the history of the British Isles, and so today, Accession Day, 2016, is a historic day" as it "commences the Queen's 65th regnal year, and to date, she is the only monarch in British history to have had a 65th regnal year." And "secondly, bearing in mind the presence of the Royal Residence of Buckingham Palace in London, UK, I shall consider a manifestation of the historic cultural Christianity of London, as found in one form of the children's nursery rhyme or song, 'Oranges and Lemons,' through reference to the Anglican Churches of London referred to in this song." "'Oranges and Lemons,' said the bells of St. Clement's; 'You owe me five farthings,' said the bells of St. Martin's; 'When will you pay me?,' said the bells of old Bailey. 'When I get rich,' said the bells of Shoreditch. 'When will they be?,' said the bells of Stepney. 'I'm sure I don't know,' said the great bells of BOW, BOW, BOW." "Chop, Chop, Chop." |
