Norfolk Christians pay tribute to faithful Queen 

The Norfolk Christian community has been adding its tributes to the historic achievement of the Queen on becoming the longest-serving monarch in British history.

The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham James said: "Even senior citizens can remember no other monarch. Yet we do not simply celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's longevity today. It is the faithful, modest, focused and faultless way she has exercised the demanding role of a constitutional monarch which has won admirers all over the world. Nowhere is the affection in which she is held greater than in Norfolk. God save our gracious Queen."
 
The Rt Rev Jane Hedges, Dean of Norwich, said: “Today is a very exciting day for our nation as we celebrate with Her Majesty the Queen the occasion of her becoming the longest-serving sovereign in this land. She is an example to us all of faithful and dedicated service and at all our services in the cathedral today we shall be thanking God for her and for the inspiration she gives to each of us.”

The Rev Andrew Beane, vicar of Aylsham, said: “As a church and community we would like to pass our best wishes to the Queen. She has been an example of servanthood to people across our nation over many years. She is a woman of inspiration. Generosity, encouragement and humility.”
 
A prayer has been drafted by the Church of England and approved by Buckingham Palace for the occasion:

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ exchanged the glory of a heavenly throne for the form of a servant, we thank you that you have given Elizabeth our Queen a heart to serve her people, and have kept her devoted in this service beyond all who were before her: encourage us by her example to serve one another, and to seek the common good, until you call us all to reign with Christ in your eternal kingdom.
Amen.