The Queen delivered her strongest defence of the Church of England yesterday, describing its role in society as under-appreciated, after a week in which religion has come under intense attack.

Speaking at Lambeth Palace, the London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, in her first public engagement to mark the Diamond Jubilee, the Queen delivered a rare rebuke to critics of establishment of the Church. "We should remind ourselves of the significant position of the Church of England in our nation's life. The concept of our established Church is occasionally misunderstood and, I believe, commonly under-appreciated," she said.