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| Source: Evening Standard |
For me, the expression on the Bishop of Durham's face said it all at the crowning moment. - Or was it the bishops' ill-fitting copes that troubled him?
Down, right a bit, up a bit, down a bit before the final inspection shown above in case further adjustments were needed. It has been calculated that the archbishop of Canterbury took 10 seconds to crown King Charles.
Queen Camilla looked almost petrified when it came to her turn before using a finger to poke her hair back under her crown. She looked frightened that the archbishop might stand on her feet to crown her.
Inevitably comparisons will made with the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The BBC has produced a video comparing both, side by side.
Charles' coronation service was a cut down occasion designed to appeal to all faiths. Few will have given thought to the expression of Christian faith, going along as necessary.
The Leader of the House of Commons, Lord President of the Council, Penny Mordaunt, attracted considerable praise as she stood holding the Sword of State but I was moved to laughter when someone was heard to ask why she was wearing an air-hostess uniform.
I thought the mid-service construction of an Anointing Screen rather than the more traditional canopy looked particularly awkward.
Also the 'Alleluia' sung by a gospel choir appeared designed specifically to make the liturgy an inclusive service.
Otherwise more traditional choral music enhanced the ceremony in all its glory. The coronation procession from Westminster Abbey back to Buckingham Palace was a masterpiece of synchronisation.
It was heartening to see Catholic involvement in the Coronation especially given the involvement of people of other faiths and none.
Pope Francis' coronation gift of relics from the True Cross were incorporated into the processional cross, the Cross of Wales, a centenary gift to the Church in Wales from King Charles.
The wording on the reverse of the cross are the words of St David: "Byddwch lawen. Cadwch y ffydd. Gwnewch y Pethau Bychain," which means in English: "Be joyful. Keep the faith. Do the little things".
Keeping the faith is precisely what the bishops of the Church in Wales have failed to do, the same path being trod by the majority of bishops in the Church of England but not the Rt Rev Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham who continues to view marriage as "a union between a man and a woman".
Lambeth Palace described the role played by a key element in the ceremony - the Queen's Ring - an octagonal mixed-cut ruby surrounded by 14 diamonds which bears the symbolism of a ring exchanged in marriage.
Some hope for the future.
Postscript [11.03.2023]
A lesson from the Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis
What was your opinion, AB, of the reading of the liturgical Epistle by a member of a non-Christian faith? As for the copes: yes, ill-fitting and rather bland (like some of their wearers, no doubt), but evidently an ecumenical gesture, having been borrowed from the papish cathedral up the road.
ReplyDeleteIt didn't do it for me Matthew. Of course members of other faiths should be encouraged to read the Bible as part of the great commission but a liturgical reading is different, ending as it does with "This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God."
DeleteFor Christians there is one God, for Hindus like the Prime Minister who read the Epistle, there are many.
No doubt a nod to King Charles' obsession with being defender of faiths, inclusion and diversity are put above faith in many Anglican provinces which claim to be members of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church while beliefs are varied by synod pressure groups for political purposes.
It wasn’t a “nod” to diversity, inclusion or the like. It was because there is a tradition that the PM reads on state occasions. Mr Sunak’s religion was not considered a bar to observance of the tradition, because he was deemed to read in a representative capacity.
DeleteAs for Hinduism, it’s correct that it believes in many gods and worships many if not all of them. However, much Hinduism thinks of the various gods as emanating from or aspects of the single ultimate reality, Brahman.
RB
RB: A very recent tradition, exemplified by Mr Blair reading at the late Princess of Wales's funeral, which was of course not a celebration of the Eucharist. In 1953 the rubric before the Epistle decreed that it was to be read by "one of the Bishops".
Delete"papish" What a wonderful victorian word!
DeleteO ye of petty minds. Does it matter who reads the Epistle? Those who matter are those who hear it. Year after year at my city church on Remembrance Sunday it's tradition for the reading to be delivered by the City Mayor ... all recent ones of which are non-believing, self-proclaimed atheists; agnostics at best. They're ceremoniously led to the lectern to orate and no one seems to care what their personal beliefs are ... just that their readings seem to fit the occasion.
ReplyDeletePersonally I much preferred the Coronation reading - delivered with some sincerity - by our Prime Minister than by, perhaps, the Archbishop of Wales who has not a jot of sincerity in his veins. (Is he really authoring his biography: 'The Church-in-Wales - My Part In Its Downfall'?
Elderly William (OB)
OB: It does matter. That "no-one cares" about the lack of belief in your atheist or agnostic City Mayors when they proclaim Christian scriptures says a great deal about the precarious condition of contemporary Anglicanism, or at least of British civic "religion". The passage in question is one of the most explicit statements of the Person and Work of the incarnate Son of God in the New Testament "...in whom we have redemption through
Deletehis blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who
is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn
of every creature: For by him were all things
created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth,
visible and invisible, whether they be thrones,
or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all
things were created by him, and for him: And he is
before all things, and by him all things consist". How can you accuse a practising Hindu proclaiming this of "sincerity" (oh sorry, "some sincerity") when doing so surely requires at least a modicum of Christian faith?
Well, he read it excellently and so as to bring out its meaning better than is common in church. When he finished, it was easy to say, Thanks be to God!
DeleteRB
I rest my case.
DeleteI remember Tony Blair reading I Corinthians 13 st Princess Diana's Funeral, reciting it in such a manner as though he'd written it himself.
ReplyDeleteA passage which had little relevance to the matter in hand, except perhaps the bit about giving one's body to be burned (except hers wasn't). An Anglican funeral without the unexpurgated version of 1 Cor 15 is a pretty poor affair indeed.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone else noticed how the Bishop central to the AB photo of the crowning bears a strong resemblance to TV's 'Father Brown'. Perhaps it is ... ?
ReplyDeleteAd Clerum
And Justin looks as though he's blowing the king's nose.
DeleteHeavy handed Met plod attempting to pass the buck to Lincolnshire plod over false arrest of Coronation spectator.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65567316
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65550787
DeleteNorth Wales plod getting in on the act of upholding and maintaining dismal standards too.
Justin Welby should be ashamed of himself.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/11/justin-welby-should-be-ashamed-of-himself/
Alison hits the nail squarely on the head once more.
He can't retire soon enough.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65572257
DeleteWelby should indeed be ashamed of himself.
£500 fine and 3 points on his driving licence.
Outrageous behaviour!
Justin has just been convicted of speeding. He is "extremely joyful" at being caught and being able to pay reparations, but unprepared to personally offer a blessing to the speed camera. He also would like to point out the deep hurt and disappointment felt by all victims of speed cameras and call the Church to listen to the experiences of other road criminals. A working group made up of representatives of all sides will meet to discuss proposals to make the church a more inclusive and welcoming space....
ReplyDelete-
There is a Bibliical precedent set in II Kings
ReplyDelete9: 20 - "There is a man driving his chariot like a mad man. He is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi."
AV puts it rather better - "He driveth furiously".
ReplyDeleteShame that Justin Welby didn't have the wit or alacrity to inform the MPS traffic officer that he was on his way to administer the Holy Sacrament and that - in so doing - no law officer (including Peelers, Borough Watchmen etc) are authorised to 'hinder, delay, frustrate or otherwise ....' a priest in Holy Orders from undertaking that office. It might have been removed from Statute books by now, but was certainly one of those quirky Acts of Parliament (like London Taxi Hackney drivers having to carry token of a bale of hay in their vehicle boots) that was still in the queue waiting to be Repealed when last I checked. Welby was fined and had three points endorsement ... the police officer (under this ancient Act) could have faced up to three months in prison. Under this threat, I suspect the Met officer would have waved him on rather than risk his own breach of 'professional misconduct in public office'!
ReplyDeleteAnother gem (which I believe has yet to be repealed) is that any sober gentleman has the right to urinate against the rear offside wheel of a [police] officer's carriage (a.k.a. a modern police car rather than horse-drawn cart) and further demand that the constable shrouds him with his cape while he is so doing ...! Perhaps Zebedee might like to test the law to see if it still stands and then report back!!!
Old Bill
What makes you think I would be willing to do the filth any favours?
DeleteWhen did you last see a Copper in a cape?
DeleteCome to think of it, when did you last see a real Copper on the beat?
Nowadays, even the plastic community service imitation officers are rarer than hens teeth.
You're more likely to see a DC/Marvel superhero in a cape than a copper around here.
Deletehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/14/architect-power-tools-bike-thieves-hackney-riba-crime/
DeleteThe Met plod have surrendered the streets to the morons on mopeds.
Twerp was RACING through the road at........25mph.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/13/outrage-over-who-advice-on-sexuality-for-infants/
ReplyDeleteWho'd have thought?
Welsh ministers swallow WHO guidance on gender and sexuality teaching for toddlers.
Scrap the welsh assembly.
Bewildered
Agreed 100%.
DeleteThat's merely one reason for scrapping the 4th raters coining it in down in Cardiff Bay at the tax payers expense.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/parenting/liberal-mother-daughter-came-out-trans/
DeleteRead this and weep.
Right-on bisexual woke arty-farty liberal is all for Trans rights....., until her own daughter gets caught up in this sickness.
Pampered brat throws hissy fit with over-indulgent luvvie parents whose insipid response to immature emotional blackmail succeeds only in making matters worse.
DeleteJust imagine the sheer naiive stupidity of involving a bloody Social worker in such circumstances?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65610429
DeleteWoman with a penis sexually assaults little girl.
The morons still demand "inclusive" toilets and changing rooms.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-65588621
ReplyDeleteAnd so the blame game continues. Sentamu should tell the Bishopesse of Newcastle where to go.
Here's hoping it's nothing trivial.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65585951
Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦
Here's another reflection.
ReplyDeleteOn Dripford and his cronies in Cardiff Bay.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-65610397
Wales does not submit data to PIRLS.
Why might that be?