Saturday, 8th December 2002

The gathering of Society members was met by a gowned Verger and a Sub-Canon of the Abbey, Canon Middleton, and they led the procession from the nave down the south nave aisle, followed by Lola proudly carrying the flowers, and the rest in twos.

The Canon welcomed members, remarking upon the remarkable red painted Scottish lion which sits on hind legs carrying a golden orb and sceptre, at Mary's feet. He then invited Margaret Lumsdaine, President of the Society, to say a few words. This is the transcript, but please remember that this is written to be said and not read, therefore with emphasis on certain words it would come over quite differently.

"It is always a great pleasure for me to arrive at Westminster Abbey in December and to meet up with members and friends of the Marie Stuart Society. Thank you for coming to our ceremony today to remember Mary, Queen of Scots and to lay flowers at her tomb. And my sincere thanks to the Abbey and Chapter of Westminster for allowing us the privilege of this ceremony each year, and to yourself Canon Middleton for welcoming us today on behalf of the Chapter.

In the closing weeks of this our Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee year we rejoice knowing that Her Majesty has enjoyed 50 years on the throne of Great Britain, and we certainly wish her many more years as our Monarch.

But what of her famous ancestor, Mary? She may have been Queen in Scotland for 43 years but she reigned in her own right for only six of these years. These were six turbulent years for her and discussion will always be rife as to whether she was a good monarch or a bad one. Our Society exists to study this period in British history, not to judge it. In our study we find that this was perhaps one overruling quality in the life of Queen Mary. She did not judge anyone. Not even her staunch protagonist Mr. John Knox, nor did she deliberately set out to judge her cousin Queen Elizabeth Tudor. This young woman of 19 years, as she was when she returned to her native land in 1561, was beset by many trials and tribulations at a time when the nations of Europe were faced with a reforming religion. Mary was a Roman Catholic by birth and upbringing and the land she came to rule personally in 1561 had become, by proposal of Parliament, a Protestant nation. The tolerance which she showed towards the 'new' religion showed that Mary accepted change without compromising her own beliefs. It is a pity that many of her fellow countrymen did not show the same tolerance towards her, citing her religion as the weapon to use against her person. Scholars will always debate why she crossed the border into England to look for help and safety. But the one one thing which needs no debate is that in this land of England she did find safety. Maybe, though, not of the kind she would have chosen for herself; and that she did show great courage and tolerance in adversity.

Mary was close in line to the English throne and always looked to unite these two nations through her own person or that of her son. We all know the outcome of her aspirations, and that James, her son, united the two kingdoms in 1603 when Queen Elizabeth named him as her successor.

James, who did not really know his mother and had never seen her since he was a baby, honoured her by having her remains brought to the Abbey and placed beneath this beautiful memorial, very close, in fact, to her cousin Elizabeth, who rests but a few yards away. Here in this beautiful Abbey where successive monarchs have been crowned, Mary rests in peace and has witnessed the outcome of her desire to unite two warring kingdoms into one Great Britain.

It is in tribute to her vision that we come today to lay flowers at the tomb of one who could rightly be remembered as the mother of Great Britain.

Lola, I have pleasure in asking you to place these flowers."

Lola, at this point laid the flowers inside the railings surrounding the monument.

"And after this happy little ceremony, Juliet Wilson will now read Queen Mary's prayer, written in adversity. A modern prayer, showing an understanding of God's love for us all, however we may choose to worship".

Juliet read the following prayer:

Keep us, O God from all pettiness.
Let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.
Let us be done with fault-finding and leave off all self-seeking.
May we put away all pretence and meet each other face to face, without
self pity and without prejudice.
May we never be hasty in judgement, and always be generous.
Let us always take time for all things, and make us to grow calm,
serene and gentle.
Teach us to put into action our better impulses, to be straightforward
and unafraid.
Grant that we may realise that it is the little things of life that
create differences, that in the big things of life, we are as one.
And, O Lord God, let us not forget to be kind!
Amen.

Photos courtesy of Roger Joy.