As a member of the Church of England, my Christian beliefs have love at their very heart. By my most profound convictions, therefore — as well as by my position as Sovereign — I hold myself bound to respect those who follow other spiritual paths, as well as those who seek to live their lives in accordance with secular ideals

The King, at a reception of religious leaders, Buckingham Palace, 16 September

I think my most memorable moment was when the military with their thunderous pipes and perfect ceremonial handed over to the Church and we heard that gentle, reassuring message of resurrection hope as the choir sang the Croft funeral sentences. It felt like a soul had been plucked from the noise and strife of this world into the perfect peace of God’s eternity

Philip North, Bishop of Burnley, Twitter, 19 September

Perhaps that is the Queen’s parting gift to the nation: a reminder that at our end our nearest and dearest need words and music that honour their grief, celebrate our character and challenge them to review their lives while face to face with the hope of eternity

Peter Holliday, Chaplain to the Queen 2014-18, letter to The Times, 20 September

So that is why so many millions mourn: it is our way of saying “thank you” and for showing that we understand how well that quietly heroic old lady represented to us and for us all that is best in us

Lord Waldegrave, Provost, preaching in Eton College Chapel, 11 September

We invite readers’ contributions. Quotations have to be from the past few days (or quoted therein), and we need author, source, and date. Please send promptly to:

quotes@churchtimes.co.uk