Dignitaries including the Premier, Federal Opposition Leader and British consul-general have attended the Diamond Jubilee service at St Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney.

The service was one of the few official events in Sydney for the 60th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne.

Above and below: Premier Barry O'Farrell and Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott present Bible readings at the service

The Prime Minister was represented by the Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury.

Hundreds of people turned out in rainy weather to hear Dean Phillip Jensen pay tribute to the Queen's 60 years of service to her nation and the Commonwealth.

In a sermon based on 1 Samuel 8 and 1 Peter 2, Dean Jensen said "It matters not a whit whether we like her or not, whether we are republicans or not. She is our God-given queen and we should honour the position she holds. Peter was speaking of a far less honourable and far more absolute monarch when he commanded Christians in far off Turkey 'Fear God. Honour the Emperor'."

"Unlike some monarchs in some periods of our history our Queen has been a model of all that is best in constitutional monarchy" the Dean said.

"Unlike our politicians" he said "she has been unafraid to speak out of her faith and commitment to God that undergirds her execution of duty."

Dean Jensen played part of the Queen's 2011 Christmas message which he said contained "none of that mealy mouth political correctness of seasons greetings."

"She knows about God - not just giving sinful people what they want but giving sinful people what they need." the Dean said. "For while kings and rulers bring and maintain justice....Only God can deal with sin and that is what he did with his Son – the true King. The one who came and lived under the law like the constitutional monarch that he was. The one who came and gave his one life as a ransom for many. This the Queen’s king."

"Here is the Christian concept of exercising power, serving the people that God has given you responsibility to lead." he said.

Before the congregation gave thanks for the monarch, Mr Jensen said "However bleak life may be and however much we may need to call out to God for help, we always have much to thank Him for. And in our Queen and her long reign over us, we do have much to be thankful for."

The Cathedral Choir led the congregation in 'God save the Queen' and the National Anthem, as well as singing three anthems of special significance to the Royal family.

These included Parry's 'I was glad', written for Edward the seventh's coronation but also sung at the Queen's coronation in 1953.

Photos: Courtesy of Ramon Williams, Worldwide Photos