The coronation service is at its heart a profoundly Christian act, with elements of the sacraments of
baptism, ordination and marriage woven into a liturgy shaped by the Communion. The order of
service will by tradition have six parts – the recognition when the King is introduced, the oath, the
anointing, the investiture including crowning, the enthronement, and the homage.
We know that a special coronation Bible including the Apocrypha has been made and delivered.
Twelve pieces of music have been commissioned. The coronation regalia including a glove, ring,
armlets and robe will be processed in by four peers all of whom come from a faith tradition.
In this Religion Media Centre briefing, our panel explained each part of the service, its tradition and
meaning. They also spoke of the solemn sacredness of the occasion, especially the anointing of the
monarch, which will be the only part not on public view. And they addressed the obvious irony that
the King and Supreme Governor of the Church of England takes office in a sacred religious ceremony,
with language and ideas going back to Biblical times, while all around them is a country with
declining affiliation in religious organisations and an increase in those who say they are non-
religious.
King Charles’ lifelong interest in spirituality and association with people of all faiths will be reflected
in the service through a procession of peers and faith leaders, and though he will still commit to
being the Defender of the Faith, our panellists agreed that the title had never been defined
constitutionally, and the King can interpret it as he likes.
Our panellists are Catherine Pepinster, journalist and author of “Defenders of the Faith: The British Monarchy, Religion and the Coronation”; the Rev Prof Ian Bradley, Emeritus Professor of Cultural and Spiritual History at the University of St Andrews, author of “God Save The King: The Sacred Nature of the Monarchy”; and Canon Professor Alison Milbank, canon theologian, Southwell Minster.
They discussed whether this event, like the Queen’s funeral, would release “vague religiosity”
among the British public, through imaginative liturgy and purpose, or whether it would be treated
with indifference.
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Full Briefing Video
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