Thomas Baldwin reports on memories of the late Queen Elizabeth.

DURING the national period of mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth, former Moderators of the General Assembly, chaplains, and the Queen’s parish ministers in Scotland recalled their memories of her.

Last year’s Moderator, Lord Wallace of Tankerness, shared his memories of Her Majesty during tributes in the House of Lords the day after her death. He said: “Until yesterday, in common with the majority of people in this country, I had known only one monarch. For so many of us, the Queen alone represented what we think of as and understand by the concept of monarchy. She was ‘The Queen’. Her reign was one of exemplary, selfless and faithful service, sustained by a profound Christian faith — alife of service inspired by following the way of Jesus, the Servant King.

“However, it was not a slavish adherence to duty. Many people have commented on the late Queen’s pertinent comments on visits, her informed observations and the real interest she showed in people and communities. She engaged with these people and their communities on visits for 70 years and more, and invariably left them feeling much better for having met her. It is testimony to the gracious manner in which she fulfilled her role as our Queen.” The Very Rev Dr John Chalmers (Moderator in 2014, and a Queen’s Chaplain) said that ‘meetings with Her Majesty always led to pleasant and easy conversations’, and that she had followed the journey of his son, former marine and TV presenter JJ Chalmers, when JJ was recovering from injuries sustained in Afghanistan.

“When she realised that JJ was none other than the star that she had been watching on Strictly Come Dancing, she penned a handwritten letter reflecting on how ‘fantastically’ he had danced and how glad she was that ‘his life had changed so much’.”

He added: “I spent many hours over several visits with Her Majesty and I never had as much as a moment when I did not feel relaxed in her company. We talked about the state of the Church, we talked about blood stock and horse racing and we talked about our children and family life. She was always well briefed, she knew her guests and she enjoyed entertaining them, and she always asked about their interests and the challenges they were facing in life.”

Another former Moderator and Queen’s Chaplain, the Very Rev Dr Susan Brown, wrote after the Queen’s death was announced: “Held now safely in the arms of the God she so trusted to lead her in private and in public. Our prayers go out to a family mourning a mother and grandmother.”

The Rev Neil Gardner, minister of Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, the kirk of Holyroodhouse, recalled being asked to see the Queen for a chat, ‘but only if he has time’. He said: “The gentle manner in which the royal summons was issued was rather typical of the genuinely unassuming attitude that was for some an unexpected hallmark of the Queen’s character.

“I can’t help thinking there was something rather Scottish about Her Majesty’s capacity not to take herself too seriously – even as she faultlessly fulfilled the most serious of roles – that can be traced not just to her Scottish ancestry but to the many happy times she spent in Scotland throughout the course of her very long life and reign.

“It can safely be said that she had time for Scotland and its people, and relished the casual chats just as much as the more formal encounters. And Scotland had time for her, thanks not least to that gently self-deprecating approach that struck such a chord in this particular corner of Her Majesty’s Kingdom.”

The Very Rev Dr Martin Fair, Moderator in 2020, stayed at Balmoral just a few days before she passed away, and was later asked to lead a service at the Kelpies in Falkirk on the eve of her funeral.

Dr Fair said that the Queen had been ‘in such good form – smiling, laughing and enjoying the recounting of special memories’. He said she had described filming her famous tea with Paddington Bear for her Platinum Jubilee as ‘rather fun’. “I said to her, ‘Ma’am, I hope you know just how much you’re respected and loved across Scotland?’

“The Queen paused for a moment then responded, ‘perhaps you’re right, after all one has been around for quite a while’.

“But she had a calm and gentle smile at that moment and I think she knew what I was saying and that she did know how much she was loved.”