The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev and Rt Hon George Carey, led the prayers at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in Westminster Abbey on Saturday, September 6th. On his shoulders he carried the concerns and thoughts of millions of people throughout the world. The prayers spoke clearly of much of emotion of a week that we would never forget; included one of thanksgiving to God for Diana for her "sense of joy and for the way she gave to so much to so many people." Additional prayers were offered for her family, in particular, for Prince William and Prince Harry and her mother, brother and her sisters.
The Archbishop said a general prayer for the royal family and then offered a remembrance of the others who died in the fatal crash, Dodi al Fayed and Henri Paul. He remembered all those who mourn in a prayer focused on the princess' life and work, mentioning especially her concerns for children, those living with AIDS and especially those who have been maimed through the "evil of land mines". The prayer said, "Lord we pray for all who are weak, poor and powerless throughout the world; the sick, among them Trevor Rees-Jones." Mr. Rees-Jones was the body guard in the car.
The Archbishop then offered a consoling prayer for all people in the world asking God to "Give us the same compassionate commitment. Give us a steadfast heart," emulating Diana's way of life. After the prayerful singing of the Londonderry Air with the familiar words 'I would be true', the Archbishop lead the millions of people around the world in the Lords Prayer, before bestowing on the congregation his blessing.
Music before the service included Albinoni "Adagio", Dvorak "Largo", The Pachelbel Canon, and Nimrod from the Enigma Variations. The Very Reverend Wesley Carr, Dean of Westminster Abbey and the rest of the Chapter vested in magnificent copes appeared as an honour guard to escort the cortege in the procession. The liturgy began with the traditional Book of Common Prayer sentences, "I am the resurrection of the Life," set to music by William Croft along with "Thou knowest, Lord" by one-time Abbey organist Henry Purcell. The Dean offered a bidding prayer as he said "We are gathered here in Westminster Abbey to give thanks for the life of Diana, Princess of Wales; to commend her soul to almighty God, and to seek comfort for all who mourn".
The service, in a fine mixture of Anglican tradition and a sense of Diana's "free spirit", continued with the singing of the hymn, "I Vow to Thee My Country" set to the powerful music by Gustav Holst. This hymn was sung at St Paul's Cathedral for the royal wedding and was requested by Prince William for the funeral.
Two readings were offered by Diana's sisters and the BBC singers, with soprano Lynne A Dawson sang the 'Libera me' from the Verdi Requiem. A metrical setting of Psalm 23, a familiar text 'The King of Love My Shepherd Is' was sung to the tune 'Dominus Regit me'. I Corinthians 13 was read eloquently by the Prime Minister Tony Blair, followed by Elton John singing his 'Candle in the Wind' with words especially written to commemorate the princess' death by Bernie Taupin. A fitting tribute from a friend.
The Princess' brother then gave a poignant and provocative tribute to Diana and her work, receiving thunderous applause at the conclusion. This was followed by a paraphrase of the Prayer of St Francis of Assisi, "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace". The final hymn before the Dean offered the Commendation was the great Welsh Hymn of hope, "Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer", very proper for the Princess of Wales .
The Dean, following the Archbishop's prayers, standing before the coffin commended Diana to the mercy of God, in these words:
"Diana, our companion in faith and sister in Christ, we entrust you to God. Go forth from this world in the love of the Father, who created you;
In the mercy of Jesus Christ, who died for you;
In the power of the Holy Spirit, who strengthens you.
At one with all the faithful, living and departed,
may you rest in peace and rise in glory,
where grief and misery are banished
and light and joy evermore abide. Amen.
Then the cortege began its procession out of the church, stopping at the West End for the nation's one minute silence. This extraordinary moment in the liturgy was almost mystically supported by the text to music by John Tavener, who was in the congregation. His "Song for Athene" was written in 1993 as a tribute to a young friend who was killed in a cycling accident. The music is both serene and stirring at the same time. With the poignancy of the words, this was a perfect prelude to the national silence. The half muffled bells of the Abbey were rung as the coffin left the historic national shrine in central London for the procession to Althorp.
Accompanied by Bach's Prelude in C minor, the members of the congregation filed into the streets of Westminster to be greeted by the thousands in Parliament Square and Victoria Street. The people filing out from the Abbey were not just the "elect or high and mighty", as is often the case at such functions, but people from all walks of life. St Margarets Church was opened to people in wheelchairs and who needed assistance from nurses. Young, old, black, white, all races, all faiths, many wearing red or black ribbons, all were there to prayer and thank God for the gift of Diana. Actors and actresses, politicians, royal family in full, charity workers and a host of people from her Christmas card list!
But most compelling was the presence of two young boys, Prince William and Prince Harry, walking with dignity behind the coffin. May they be in our prayers as they face the years ahead.
Inside the Abbey
An unexpected hour of great privilege
by Jim Rosenthal
When I received my official media pass for the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, I was literally stunned. Feelings of gratitude, feelings of excitement, feelings of sadness and feelings of pride all permeated my being. "Why was I granted this media pass, as I was coming from a religious press organisation not a major newspaper," I wondered. There must have been thousands of people applying for press credentials and on the day itself, there were only a handful of us, dressed in black, standing in the queue with mourners and friends.
I kept wondering, and then I realised more and more that the reason I could have this experience was because of you, you the 70 million Anglicans around the world that in the sense of Christian family were part of the same family as that of Diana, Princess of Wales; not blood family, not royal, but spiritual family. How fitting it was on Sunday at Canterbury Cathedral to find Bishop David Say, who confirmed Diana as a young girl, participating in the Eucharist, complete with floral tributes in abundance scattered around the Compass Rose in the nave.
Diana epitomised what we often call the radical gospel of Jesus Christ; in her manner, and in her actions. In the same way, she embodied even greater understanding and compassion because of her vulnerability and the public aspects of her life, which were often cruel and unhappy.
It is not often that you see members of the press cry, but in our perch above the congregation looking directly upon the royal family the tears flowed. Emotions were shared in the small group of journalists. As I spoke to various colleagues at the Abbey, I was so proud to say that we had already received literally hundreds of messages of sympathy from Anglicans around the world and indeed from all four corners of the Earth. Requiems, memorial services, prayers were being said in cathedrals and churches all over the Anglican Communion.
In a way it was a moment for us as Anglicans to shine. Not only because of the beauty of our beloved Westminster Abbey, or the presence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, or indeed our gift of sensitive and expressive liturgy and music, but because a member of the family had died and we wanted her to have a fitting goodbye. Indeed she is a very special member of the family. One who will be remembered for years to come, not only because she was royal, but because she proclaimed in her work and caring the attributes of another royal family, "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood".
The hour service had come and gone. No more words, just Bach and Saint Saens sweeping through the Abbey. I really didn't want to leave. The look on the face of the young princes remained with me. The bier candles were still lit even though the coffin was gone. I still hear the Dean saying "may you rest in peace and rise in glory" and have been humming ever since Saturday the Holst tune for "I Vow to Thee My Country".
"And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,
most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
we may not count her armies, we may not see her king;
her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
and soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
and her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace."
Visits to the Abbey will never be the same.