The Queen endorsed the Church of England's controversial new form of worship at the opening of the General Synod, yesterday.

After a service in Westminster Abbey, conducted with the new liturgy, called Common Worship, she said: "The form of this worship is something special for each and every one of us. I therefore recognise the importance of your predecessors' revision of the contemporary liturgy, culminating in the production of Common Worship."

Addressing the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, bishops and other members of the Synod, the Queen said: "The aim of this revision is to provide for the diversity of worship in the Church of England's parishes within a common framework.''

In an apparent concession to traditionalists within the Anglican Church, she said: ''I am pleased that Common Worship contains services from the Book of Common Prayer in its main volume.

"Both the Prayer Book and modern services have a valued place in the Church of England today and are part of its future.