Fittingly enough, some of the prayers were led by a female cleric, Canon Rebecca Swyer.
They listened as the pledge of allegiance was said, prayers were led and the national anthem sung.
The prayers were led by an "imam," Dr. Mohammed Abdul Rauf, who is from Cairo, and has been in this country a very short time.
The prayers were led by the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, and Lobsang Sangay, the recently elected prime minister of the government-in-exile, which is in Dharamsala, India.
And in China there exists a controversial women-only car park and, among certain members of the Chinese Muslim minority, "women only" mosques where prayers are led by female imams.
She said nothing during the Mass -- the prayers were led by Mr. Coleman and the monsignor -- but outside the cathedral she expressed gratitude for the turnout, which was said to be among the largest since memorial Masses for the hunger strikers were first held in the early 1980's.
The Navy was represented by Admiral Nick Wilkinson, prayers were led by the Bishop of Woolwich and among the readings were eloquent tributes from Duncan Wilson, chief executive of the Greenwich Foundation and H.E. James Wright, the Canadian High Commissioner.
The local deputation was led by Talal Abid Ahmed Zubaida, a local prayer leader.
There was special symbolism in the prayers, which were led by people representing different aspects of the Queen's life.
Public prayers may be led by anyone who has a blessing from the bishop or priest in charge of the church.
