Parish Magazine Item for the Coronation II

From The Rectory

 

As I said last month, I’ve long been an enormous fan of the coronation service. I was glad that my favourite bit about the Bible as “the most valuable thing this world affords” remained in. And for all my love of traditional pageantry and so on, I think the desire to make the occasion seem more inclusive was, on balance, understandable and probably well done.

 

If you’re interested in reading more about the service, I enjoyed Tom Holland’s Comment is Free piece in The Observer / Guardian which you can find free online: ‘Our bronze age coronation rites seem to speak to a modern love of the sacred’ - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/30/bronze-age-coronation-rites-seem-to-speak-to-a-modern-love-of-the-sacred

 

The order of service was on The Church of England website and in particular there was a version with commentary which is worth a look - https://www.churchofengland.org/coronation/liturgy. (As I say, I draw your attention to the presentation of the Bible towards the beginning).

 

I’ve also been giving out a slim book by Roger Careswell from 10ofThose called God Save The King! I’m afraid we’ve used up all our stock, but you might even get it at a much better discount now if they’re not all sold out! - https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products?q=Coronation

 

Though I thought I was quite familiar with the service, I admit I was a little rusty on the royal regalia. We all think we know about the crown jewels, of course. But who knew about the significance of spurs, one glove and bracelets? I’m still not sure what the redemption of the sword was all about.  

The orb remains a powerful symbol, I think. The globe is under the cross. Christ is the king. And the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of God and of his Christ.

 

As we marvel at the King’s regalia, we might think of the regalia of Christ and of the Christian.

 

Jesus was crowned with thorns. His wounds are the trophies of his victory. We may glory in the crucified and risen Messiah.

 

And the Bible has much to say about the Christian dress code. It speaks of what we out to put off (all sin) and what we ought to put on.

 

One of the most striking images of the coronation was Charles divested of all his royal robes. As he stood in a simple white shirt, the humanity, weakness and frailty of us all was proclaimed. Even the best of men are only men at best. God sees our hearts. And all of us have things which we ought to put off: sinful attitudes from which we need to turn.

 

We are to put on Christ (Romans 13:14). We are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3:12). The believer is not to lounge around in her pyjamas but is to put on the full armour of God. A look at The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chapter 6 would show us the Christian also splendidly arrayed for a life of real meaning and significance. Here we are dressed not for the ceremony of court but for a real fight.

 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 

If the apparel of the King at his coronation matters, so does what we put on and put off each day.

 

As we pray for King Charles, let us also pray that we would be clothed with Christ by faith and by all his virtues which would adorn our lives. In the title of the coronation service, we too are “called to serve” Christ the King and all people as made in the image of God. May we more and more reflect the likeness of Jesus, crucified, risen, ascended.

 

The Revd Marc Lloyd 

The Revd Marc Lloyd