Queen Elizabeth gives church speech

Britain's Queen Elizabeth feels the Church of England is "under-appreciated and occasionally misunderstood", she said in a speech at a multifaith reception in London yesterday (15.02.12).

Britain's Queen Elizabeth feels the Church of England is "under-appreciated and occasionally misunderstood."

The monarch - who is head of the branch of Christianity - made a speech at a multifaith reception at London's Lambeth Palace, in which she said the church has a duty to protect the freedom of other faiths in the UK.

Accompanied to the reception by her husband Prince Philip, the queen said: "Here at Lambeth Palace we should remind ourselves of the significant position of the Church of England in our nation's life.

"The concept of our established church is occasionally misunderstood and, I believe, commonly under-appreciated.

"Its role is not to defend Anglicanism to the exclusion of other religions.

"Instead, the church has a duty to protect the free practice of all faiths in this country."

She also referenced her Diamond Jubilee in the address.

She added: "Many of the values and ideas we take for granted in this and other countries originate in the ancient wisdom of our traditions. Even the concept of a jubilee is rooted in the Bible."

The royal couple were greeted at the reception by the Archbishop of Canterbury and met with Christian representatives, as well as representatives from eight non-Christian religions who presented an object or text that is important to their faith.