The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, has planted a tree in the garden of the Anglican Communion Office – the London-based secretariat for the worldwide Anglican Communion – as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy. The Anglican Communion Office is a former convent. The site’s enclosed garden is used by staff and visitors to the building in Notting Hill, London.
The tree planted in the Anglican Communion Office garden is an Acer Palmatum Dissectum Viride – a Japanese Maple shaped as a rounded bush, which has deeply dissected lime green leaves in the spring and summer before turning into a deep golden yellow in the autumn. Staff gathered in the garden for the tree planting ceremony which took the form of a simple liturgical act of worship.
The Revd Rachel Carnegie, Executive Director of the Anglican Alliance, one of the bodies based at the Anglican Communion Office, said: “we are so inspired by churches around the Communion in South Africa, India, Malaysia and many other places that are planting trees for significant events, whether its baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and so forth, honouring people in those significant moments and honouring God, because tree planting is part of our call.
“In the Mark of Mission we talk about ‘Safeguarding Creation and sustaining and renewing the life of the Earth’. Protecting Forests and Restoring Forests is one of the very important things that everybody can do towards protecting our environment and trying to deal with climate change.”
The Queen’s Green Canopy is the UK’s response to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy – a unique network of forest conservation projects in the 45 countries of the Commonwealth. The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy brings collective credibility and integrity to individual Commonwealth initiatives. The schemes are part of the celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Events are taking place throughout the year to mark The Queen’s 70 years of service as Monarch and Head of State of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
A large number of events will take place this coming weekend which, in the United Kingdom, has been extended by two Public Holidays on Thursday and Friday.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, had been due to preach at a Service of Thanksgiving in London’s Saint Paul’s Cathedral on Friday. But today (Monday) it was announced that the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, will take his place while he recovers from Covid and Pneumonia.
“I am deeply saddened to be missing the historic celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee”, Archbishop Justin said. “However, I will be praying for The Queen and giving thanks for her extraordinary seventy years of service to us all. I will also be praying for our nation at this time of celebration and thanksgiving. May The Queen’s example bring us together in unity and care for one another.
“For those attending Friday’s service at St Paul’s Cathedral, and the millions watching on television, I hope this joyful occasion will inspire us with The Queen’s profound commitment to fostering unity and peace among all people – and to promoting care for the natural world that God has given us. Led by the love of Jesus Christ, The Queen has lived her life for the benefit of others: l pray we find inspiration from Her Majesty over the Jubilee weekend and long into the future.
“Meanwhile as we continue to live with coronavirus, I pray too for all those who are still suffering and everyone who continues to mourn loved ones they have lost during the pandemic. May you each know the love and comfort of God.”
“As we prepare to celebrate the first Platinum Jubilee in our nation’s history, may God save The Queen, and bless her with the knowledge of our profound love and gratitude for her service to us all.”