THE Bishop of Ely, the Right Reverend Stephen Conway, has paid glowing tribute to Her Majesty the Queen in the run up to her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

In an open letter to all of his clergy, Bishop Conway emphasised the Queen’s grace and humility in her 60 years on the throne.

He said: “I am thrilled to be playing my part alongside all of your efforts to lead and join your communities in celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth II. It is wonderful, given all that we are going through, to rejoice in the consecrated and anointed service to this United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of this faithful monarch and profoundly Christian woman.

The Bishop added: “This is just the right moment to be celebrating someone who embodies steadfastness and a special sense of what it means to minister with grace and humility. We pray joyfully and earnestly for her continued flourishing. Long may she reign over us and call us to be a generous society under the God to whose sovereignty she points and bows.”