Parish Magazine Item for May on The Coronation

 

From The Rectory

 

Recently we have heard all sorts of speculation about the plans for the coronation of King Charles III and some facts are now known. As I write, the order of service has not yet been published.

 

It is still possible to watch the coronation of her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II online. Britain in 2023 is quite different from Britain in 1953. It may be that changes to the monarchy are long overdue. But I for one hope that we will see a thoroughly Christian service which retains some of the ancient ceremonial of former times.

 

Some elements of the service used in 1953 may jar with King Charles and indeed with the public. Some of the coronation vows might seem sectarian and it is debatable what they could mean in practice. For example, the monarch might be asked:

Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel?

Will you to the utmost of your power maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law?

Will you maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in England?

And will you preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of England, and to the Churches there committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges, as by law do or shall appertain to them or any of them?

For myself I am all for these things, but it is clear that we need to make the case for them again. Even to many in the Abbey they will seem meaningless and unfair. It is no longer clear to most of the great British public that the C of E is a good thing.  

 

Which brings us neatly to the next part of the service, my favourite: the presentation of the Holy Bible to the monarch with these words:

Our gracious Queen:
to keep your Majesty ever mindful of the law and the Gospel of God
as the Rule for the whole life and government of Christian Princes,
we present you with this Book,
the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is Wisdom;
This is the royal Law;
These are the lively Oracles of God.

I hope these words will be included in the coronation service. Let us pray that millions will ponder them and give the Bible another look. If we did, we would find there great wisdom for our own lives and for the lives of nations. Not only that, but we would find the very words of God, God speaking. There could never be anything more important for his creatures than attending to his voice.

 

As the Bible itself says about the Bible:

 

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.
By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.

 

(Psalm 19).

 

Take up and read! And God save the King!

 

The Revd Marc Lloyd