Project Description

As I write this, I’ve just received a lovely souvenir Coronation mug in the post, and it’s caused me to reflect once again on what was a most memorable and significant historical occasion for our nation. The last Coronation took place some 70 years ago when, for the first time, it was televised across the world, and we have often seen black and white snippets of that great occasion, so steeped as it was in Biblical imagery and ritual. All these years later, the UK has changed beyond recognition, and many of us were wondering just what Charles’ coronation would look like. Indeed, we were quite apprehensive (as indicated in previous editions of the magazine), fearing that it would be a largely syncretic event incorporating a mixture of false ecumenism and new age secularism.

However, despite some entirely legitimate acknowledgment of the multi-faith and multi-cultural nature of the modern UK, the Coronation service was essentially Christian in tone and content.

It was also a reminder that, thanks to the Glorious Revolution settlement, we have a Protestant monarchy and a constitutional democracy which secures our civil and religious liberties.

Yes, there were parts of the service in Westminster Abbey with which we could find fault, (and there will those who will trawl through the service to do just that) but there was much in it that should cause us to be thankful. The various elements of the investiture and crowning were majestic events, replete with Biblical references and precedents.

The Bible was presented to the King with the words, “Receive 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”.  The Bible was also read clearly and powerfully in the Authorised Version, and one of the readers was Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, who is a Hindu.

King Charles promised to maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel, and to maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law. He stated, “I Charles do solemnly and sincerely in the presence of God profess, testify, and declare that I am a faithful Protestant, and that I will, according to the true intent of the enactments which secure the Protestant succession to the Throne, uphold and maintain the said enactments to the best of my powers according to law”.

At the conclusion of the coronation, the choir sang, “Be strong, and show thy worth: keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways” (after 1 Kings 2: 1–3).

We would echo those words and urge our readers to pray for the King. Pray that he might reflect much upon the promises he has made and that he would entrust his life and his ways unto the Lord.

Thy choicest gifts in store

On him be pleased to pour,

Long may he reign.

May he defend our laws,

And ever give us cause,

To sing with heart and voice,

God save the King.