About this deal
The vision Jill describes of beacons of light filling our communities is exactly what the church has been praying and longing for hundreds of years. - Debra Green OBE, Executive Director, Redeeming Our Communities The Tree of Trees is part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, which aimed to plant one million trees ahead of the Platinum Jubilee. The newly-announced engagement is an additional entry to the Queen’s busy diary over the four-day weekend. In fact the more I prayed, the more I was drawn into a sense agony in God’s heart, the whisper of the Spirit signalling: “We miss you, please come home”. Many others have had a similar vision.
Lighting the Beacons seeks to expand our everyday horizons by daring us to believe that the realities of heaven can break through right here, right now. Although traditionally the principal beacon would be set on fire, this year it is taking the form of a near-70ft light installation called the "Tree of Trees". I love the way that everything (Bishop Jill) does seems to focus outwards on those beyond the walls of the church, and upwards towards the Lord in prayer.'Jubilee names will be familiar to many as they follow the same convention as those commonly used to denote significant wedding anniversaries.
The sculpture is made of 80 steel branches holding 350 trees in aluminium pots bearing the Queen’s Royal Cypher. I am intrigued that the #ThyKingdomCome ten days of prayer leads up to Beacon events at Pentecost and uses the imagery of lights being lit across the world. Beacons are a beautiful image for men, women and children on fire with the Spirit of God, shining his light into all their spheres of influence. The Queen will touch the globe, symbolically triggering the lighting of the Tree of Trees beacon outside the Palace. Lights will chase along the Quadrangle towards Windsor’s famous Round Tower, before travelling up the Tree of Trees in London. A beautiful book with engaging stories to warm the soul of those on the edge of faith and those for whom faith is an old, but mysterious friend.'My older son dared me to write it so that it could be read by the Dads at rugby. A couple of the school mums read it, and one said: “This has made me want to read the Bible more”. I love the way that everything [Bishop Jill] does seems to focus outwards on those beyond the walls of the church, and upwards towards the Lord in prayer. - Pete Greig, Founder, 24-7 Prayer International The Queen is to symbolically lead the lighting of the principal Jubilee beacon from Windsor Castle as part of special dual ceremony with her grandson the Duke of Cambridge. Jill: "I hope that the book can be used in mid-week groups, book groups in homes or pubs. It’s written in twelve easy-read chapters, each with questions at the end to get the conversation started. At exactly 9.45pm the beacons will be lit and communities will sing A Life Lived with Grace - the Song for the Commonwealth - which won a competition to be chosen as the official beacon song.
I love the way that God’s Spirit inhabits our imaginings, so this image of chains of light has resonated with me over the last ten years, ever since I started praying in earnest for the renewal of faith across the North West.The Tree of Trees consists of 350 native British trees planted in aluminium pots, which will be donated to community groups after the Jubilee celebrations (Picture: Getty Images) I am especially grateful to Bishop Jill for her inspirational insights in promoting ordination for those trapped underground by racism, intellectualism or elitism.'
The Queen and Prince Philip, for example, marked their platinum wedding anniversary in 2017, 70 years after they were married. Deeply grounded in a gritty sense of place, yet alert to the signs of God's presence in our culture . . . breathes the kind of hope and longing that will lift your eyes and your heart. - Graham Tomlin, theologian, author and McDonald Agape Director of the Lambeth Palace Library The sculpture is made up of 80 steel branches holding 350 trees in aluminium pots marked with the Queen's cypher.
The principal beacon
There are some exceptions, with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Anchor Chain lit at 9.30pm, and the 40 connecting beacons along Hadrian’s Wall at 10.00pm – international beacons are being lit at 9.15pm local time. Members of the royal family arrive to watch the lighting of the principal beacon at the palace– a 21-metre tall Tree of Trees sculpture. The decision to cancel was seen as regrettable but sensible, given the journey from Windsor Castle to St Paul’s and the physical demands a service at the cathedral inevitably involves. It is understood that it was always the Queen’s hope to attend rather than a firm commitment. The Queen is to symbolically lead the lighting of the principal Jubilee beacon from Windsor Castle as part of special dual ceremony with her grandson the Duke of Cambridge tonight. A beautiful book with engaging stories to warm the soul of those on the edge of faith and those for whom faith is an old, but mysterious friend. - Rev Kate Bottley, Radio 2 presenter