In 1959 Frances opened an unexpected letter, with a royal crest on the envelope. She read it, and smiled. It was an invitation to John Stott to be a Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen. The Queen has thirty-six chaplains at any one time, and the role is an honorary one. (It didn’t mean that John would be pastor to the royal family.) Chaplains to the Queen each preached annually at the chapel royal in St James’s Palace, but the Queen was very rarely there. Some Chaplains never met the royal family. However, the Queen did invite John Stott to meet with her. He spent a weekend as the Queen’s guest at Sandringham, went to lunch with her at Buckingham Palace, and preached in front of the royal family more than once. The Queen evidently appreciated his ministry.
Chaplains to the Queen wear a rich scarlet cassock. George Cansdale wrote to the All Souls congregation, asking anyone who wished to contribute half a crown (equivalent of about £3 or £4 now) towards the purchase of these robes. The church family gladly gave. When John Stott’s turn came to retire from his position, the Queen invited John to remain, and take the role of Extra Chaplain for the rest of his life. This invitation is a particular honour, extended to very few.’
