Saturday, May 6th 2023 was Coronation Day for His Royal Highness, King Charles III. St. Edward’s crown, containing 444 gem stones, was placed on the head of King Charles III by the Arch Bishop of Canterbury at an extensive coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, in London. Since 1066, Westminster Abbey has been the site of coronations for 40 British monarchs.
The formal ceremony was conducted by the Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, and was characterized by a series of sacred pronouncements and regal sonnets.
Saturday’s coronation service was attended by Her Excellency Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam and the Honourable Premier, Dr. Ellis L. Webster, among other Heads of State of the Overseas Territories. Also in attendance was Inspector Helmut Mason of the Royal Anguilla Police Force.
In delivering an extensive coronation sermon, the Archbishop said “We are here to crown a king, and we crown a king to serve. What is given today is for the gain of all, for Jesus Christ announced a kingdom in which the poor and oppressed are freed from the chains of injustice. The blind see, the bruised and broken hearted are healed.
“That kingdom sets the aims of all righteous governments and all authority. And the kingdom also sets the means of all government and authority, for Jesus does not grasp power or hold on to status.
“The King of Kings, Jesus Christ was anointed not to be served but to serve. He creates the unchangeable law of good authority so that with the privilege of power comes the duty to serve. Service is love in action. We see active love in our care for the most vulnerable and by the way we nurture and encourage the young in the conservation of the natural world. We have seen those priorities in the life of duty lived by our king.
“Today, we have the honour of being in this abbey with so many who show such love. You work with charities and organizations; you build communities; you serve the nation in armed forces, in emergency services and in so many other ways.
“Next door, in St. Margaret’s Church, are four hundred or more extraordinary young people, whose lives speak of service. Around the world, and in realms of Commonwealth, there are so many more. You live your lives for the sake of others. The unity you show and the example you give are what binds us together and offers societies that are strong, joyful, happy and glorious. They bear heavy weights for us.
“The weight of the tasks given today, Your Majesty, is only bearable by the Spirit of God who gives us the strength to give our lives to others. With the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the King is given freely what no ruler can ever attain through will or politics or war or tyranny.
“The Holy Spirit draws us to love in action. This is promised by Jesus who put aside all privilege. God will give all things for our sakes, even His own life. His throne was a cross; His crown was made of thorns; His regalia were the wounds that pierced His body.
“Each of us is called by God to serve. Whatever that looks like in our own lives, each of us can choose God’s way today. We can say to the King of kings, God Himself, ‘as does the king here today, give grace that in thy service I may find perfect freedom.’
“In that prayer, there is promise beyond measure, joy beyond dreams, and hope that endures. By that prayer, for every king, every ruler, and for every person, we are opened to the transforming love of God. Amen.”
The choir then sang “Come Holy Ghost our Souls Inspire”. This was followed by the Arch Bishop’s prayer of blessing on the bottle of holy olive oil from the Mont of Olives in Jerusalem.
“The Archbishop prayed: “Even as the prophets of old and Christ were anointed to serve through the anointing of the Spirit, by the power of the same Spirit, grant that this holy oil may be for thy servant, Charles, a sign of joy and gladness, and that as King, he may know the abundance of thy grace and the power of thy mercy, and that we may be made a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for your own possession. Blessed be God, our strength and our salvation now and forever, Amen.”
Then, against the backdrop of orchestral music, with the choir singing “Rejoice, God Save the King” in Handel’s Messiah fashion, the King and the Archbishop entered a private chamber out of the sight of the congregants, where only they two, in the presence of God, transacted a holy ritual.
The holy oil was poured into a spoon from the golden ampler. It is believed that the spoon was used in coronations since the 12th century. The archbishop anointed the King with the oil from the spoon on his hands, breast and his head.
The King and Archbishop emerged from the private chamber. The King, attired in robes resembling the garments of a priest, took his seat in the coronation chair while a collection of knighthood items were ceremoniously presented to him along with regalia which symbolize the virtues of his kingship. These included the golden spurs; a jeweled sword; and wide golden bracelets.
Next, the King was vested by the Lord Great Chamberlain with the stole royal, resembling a priestly stole. The robe royal, originally made from cloth of gold for King George IV in 1821, was then brought to the King by Baroness Merron, and placed on him by Bishops. “Receive this robe,” said the Archbishop of Canterbury. “May the Lord cloth you with the robe of righteousness and with the garments of salvation.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury then presented the King with the royal orb, a globe-shaped sphere symbolizing the world under the cross of Christ. He placed it in the King’s right hand, and summoned: “Receive this orb, set under the cross, and remember always that the Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our God and of His Christ.”
Lord Patel, who represented the Hindu faith, carried the sovereign’s ring, which featured an octagonal sapphire, with a ruby cross, surrounded by diamonds. He presented it to the King on a velvet cushion. “Receive this ring,” the Archbishop charged, “which is a symbol of kingly dignity and a sign of the covenant sworn this day between God and King, King and people.”
Next, Lord Singh of Wimbledon presented the glove to the King, with which he would hold his golden sceptre. He placed the glove on the King’s right hand, and the Archbishop said: “Receive this glove so that you would hold authority with gentleness and grace, trusting not in your own power, but in the mercy of God.”
The Most Reverend Mark Strange and the Most Reverend Andrew John then presented the sceptre and rod to the King. “Receive the royal sceptre,” the Archbishop pronounced. “It is the ensign of kingly power and justice; and the rod of equity and mercy, a symbol of covenant and peace. May the Spirit of the Lord who anointed Jesus at His baptism so anoint you this day that you might exercise authority with wisdom and direct your councils with grace. That by your service and ministry to all your people, justice and mercy may be seen in all the earth.”
Prior to the crowning, the Archbishop prayed a prayer of blessing over the crown: “King of kings and Lord of lords, bless, we beseech thee, this crown. And so sanctify thy servant, Charles, upon whose head this day thou does place it for a sign of royal majesty, that he may be crowned with thy gracious favour and filled with abundant grace and all princely virtues, through Him who liveth and reigneth supreme over all things, one God, world without end, Amen.”
The Crown of St. Edward, made 350 years ago, was then brought to the altar by the Dean. He handed it to the Archbishop who raised it, and then meticulously lowered it upon King Charles’ head. King Charles III was crowned. “God saves the King!” the Archbishop loudly declared. The congregants spontaneously repeated it, as the brass orchestra pervaded the air with the regal music.
