Kanterbury Tales

I guess the higher up you go in the C of E hierarchy the more anodyne becomes your mission statement. Usually along the lines of ‘let’s love each other to death rather than have another bun fight.’ But I was struck this evening hearing on the news the Archbishop of Canterbury, ex-oil industry exec Justin Welby declare that the funeral tomorrow is ‘absolutely about the Duke of Edinburgh.’ I was moved, almost (to turn the radio off). But I wanted to hear what other profound insights he had to offer. Surely the word ‘extraordinary’ had to be deployed? Indeed it was, when we heard that the Queen has shown ‘extraordinary courage.’ Courage? Is that the appropriate description of somebody grieving over the loss of a loved one? He didn’t but could have said she must be extraordinarily grieving (after 73 years with the Duke), which would have made more sense if sounding a little less heroic. As it is, if Welby is seeking to demonstrate the comforting power of religion he seems rather incapable, merely reciting the on message guff of gong seeking sycophants.

Before you know it, when this is all over we’ll hear from Justin how Prince Andrew is ‘courageously’ dealing with the fallout of his past liaison with the paedophile Epstein.  Everything regarding this family has to be spoken of in hushed tones of admiration if you are the Archbish of Canterbury.