The Stone of Destiny is seen during a welcome ceremony before the coronation of King Charles III of England, at Westminster Abbey, London, Saturday, April 29, 2023.
SUSANNAH IRELAND/AP
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SUSANNAH IRELAND/AP
The Stone of Destiny is seen during a welcome ceremony before the coronation of King Charles III of England, at Westminster Abbey, London, Saturday, April 29, 2023.
SUSANNAH IRELAND/AP
LONDON — It will be the coronation of many faiths and many languages.
King Charles III, eager to show he can be a unifying figure for everyone in Great Britain, will be crowned in a first-of-its-kind ceremony that will involve faiths other than the Church of England. .
Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh leaders will participate in various aspects of the coronation, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s office said on Saturday, as it revealed. details of a service it describes as an act of Christian worship that would reflect contemporary society.
The ceremony will also feature female bishops for the first time, as well as chants and prayers sung in Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic, as well as English.
“The service contains new elements that reflect the diversity of our contemporary society,” Archbishop Justin Welby, spiritual leader of the Church of England, said in a statement. “I pray that all who participate in this service, whoever they are, faith or non-believer, will find ancient wisdom and new hope that bring inspiration and hope.” fun.”
The coronation reflects Charles’s efforts to show that the 1,000-year-old monarchy is still relevant in a country far more diverse than when his mother ascended the throne 70 years ago. While the king is the supreme governor of the Church of England, the latest census shows that less than half of the population now identifies as Catholic.
Built around the theme of “Called to Serve”, the coronation will begin with one of the youngest members of the congregation – the choir of the Royal Chapel – greeting the king. Charles would respond by saying, “In His name and in His example, I have come not to be served but to serve.”
The moment was meant to emphasize the importance of young people in the world today, according to Lambeth Palace, the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The service will also include many historical elements that emphasize ancient traditions through which power has been passed on to new kings and queens throughout the centuries.
In the holiest part of the ceremony, the Archbishop of Canterbury will anoint the king, consecrate him and separate him from his subjects.
A screen will cover Charles at this time, and the anointing will not be shown on television or most people in the monastery, except for some high-ranking members of the clergy.
A spokesperson for Lambeth Palace said: “When the screen surrounding the coronation chair was removed, the king was revealed to all of us as one who assumed the responsibility of serving God and serving people. people”.
This was followed by a presentation of the crown jewels, sacred objects such as spheres and scepters representing the power and responsibility of the monarch.
In another innovation that reflects the changing religious landscape in Britain, members of the House of Lords from Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh traditions will present the king with objects that are not There are clear symbols of Christianity.
After that, the new king will be crowned and the chorus “God Save the King” will resound throughout the Monastery.
After Charles ascended the throne, the traditional veneration of equals would be replaced by “reverence of the people”, in which those in the Abbey and those watching on television would be invited to affirm their loyalty to the king.
Camilla will then be anointed, in the same form as that of Queen Elizabeth, the queen’s mother, in 1937. However, Camilla’s anointing will not be hidden behind a screen.
The community will also be invited to say the Our Father’ in the language of their choice.
Just before Charles boarded the Gold State Coach for a parade through the streets of London, leaders and representatives of faith communities would greet in unison. Lambeth Palace said the greeting would not be amplified out of respect for those who are observing the Jewish Sabbath and are prohibited from using electrical appliances.
