Crooked Spire's vicar echoes Queen's message that 'we will meet again'

Following Her Majesty’s speech in relation to the coronavirus crisis on Sunday night, Rev Patrick Coleman told the Derbyshire Times: “I was grateful to be able to watch and listen to the Queen as she addressed the nation, providing as she does a sound basis of stability and common sense in among all the raucous voices, opinions and views of mass and social media.

MORE: Young Derbyshire artist draws tribute to key workers to raise money for NHS

“She very wisely suggested that for the many who are self-isolating or in lockdown, this is a time to slow down, to take life more gently.

“I know only too well how many people are still very busy keeping things going, and indeed how many are overwhelmed at the front lines of health and social care.

“At some point they are going to need time to slow down too – maybe not in the heat of this crisis, but certainly before too long.

“Like all of us, if pressed too hard, they too can break.

“These heroes need more than our encouragement – in future they will need rather more care, support and recognition than we have been accustomed to giving.

“In Holy Week Christians recall how God in Jesus suffered with the human race, and through the victory of Jesus over death opened up a new horizon of life and hope.

“Whatever you believe, we all need to hope.

“We need to hope that lessons will be learned from our communal experience; we need to hope that our priorities for society and for the world around us will change for the better; we need to hope that all people will learn afresh how much we need each other, and how we are not just individuals who can just do what we like when we like.

“The Queen was right when at the end she said we will meet again.

“That’s the very least hope that can get us all through this – but there is so much more to hope for, and to work for!

“Keep safe, and keep well.”

MORE: ‘Small but disappointing number of people’ still not following lockdown guidance, Derbyshire police say

A message from the editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor