The Queen was guest of honour at a special church service broadcast on BBC One's Song's of Praise yesterday marking the Christian charity the Scripture Union's 150th anniversary.
Her Majesty was present at the service, which took place in December, at St Mary's Church in Islington, north London, close to where the organisation's first meeting was held in December 1867.
Queen Elizabeth's attendance at the event highlights the lasting impact that Scripture Union (SU) has had in the lives of countless children over the years. Active in 120 countries around the world, SU aims to help children and young people from all backgrounds to explore the Bible with a range of activities and initiatives.
The 150th anniversary service featured the popular classical singer Katherine Jenkins, who hosted the edition of Songs of Praise.
It was led by the national director of SU, the Rev Tim Hastie-Smith and Rev Simon Harvey, the vicar of St Mary's Church, and attended by SU supporters, volunteers and others connected to the charity's work. Music was provided by a choir of local school children as well as the All Souls Orchestra.
The Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, gave the address.
Baroness Floella Benjamin was also involved in the service and a new SU Jubilee hymn entitled God of Unchanging Grace, composed by Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith, was sung as guests enjoyed an hour of song, drama and presentations highlighting the work of SU.
Hastie-Smith said: 'We are thrilled that Her Majesty The Queen has chosen to join us as we celebrate 150 years of sharing the good news and love of Jesus Christ with the children and young people of this nation. For so many young people, it is the faithful and gently inspiring witness of parents, grandparents and great-grandparents that testifies most powerfully to God's enduring love. Her Majesty embodies this witness, and just as she seeks to serve all people of this nation regardless of race or religion, so SU seeks to testify to the abiding presence of a life transforming loving God, whose love is for all, and is found freely in His world.'
Last year, in light of statistics that suggesting that some 95 per cent of children and young people in England and Wales are not in a church, the charity launched The 95 Campaign, which aims to help raise awareness of this issue and asks others with the same heart to join SU as they explore what it means to be a Christian.
Specific ministries of SU include schools work, sports ministry, residential holidays and camps and resources such as Guardians of Ancora, SU's digital Bible game.
