Christian leaders from across the traditions will give a blessing to King Charles III in the ceremony on 6 May 2023.
2 May 2023
For the first time, leaders representing many of our national Member Churches will play an active role in the monarch’s coronation.
CTE Presidents Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop Nikitas and Rev Canon Helen Cameron will deliver part of The Blessing to King Charles III. They will be joined by CTE General Secretary, Bishop Mike Royal.
CTE President and Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will, of course, lead the service taking place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May.
The commentary on the service’s liturgy explains that “The progress of ecumenical relations since 1953 means that, for the first time, this Blessing is to be shared by Christian leaders across the country.”
CTE General Secretary, Bishop Mike Royal said: “I am deeply honoured to not only represent many in my own community but to represent all the church denominations who would wish to be represented at the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.”
While most CTE denominations are supportive of the Coronation there are some individuals and denominations who are not.
Read an alternative view from Rev Dr Simon Woodman: ‘We have no King but Jesus!’.
Inter faith representation
The active participation of leaders from other faiths is another ‘first’ for a British monarch’s coronation.
At the end of the procession at the close of the service, before His Majesty proceeds to the Gold State Coach, The King will receive and acknowledge a spoken greeting delivered in unison by Representatives from Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Buddhist communities.
Co-Chairs of the Inter Faith Network, Rev Canon Hilary Barber and Narendra Waghela said: “The Coronation of HM King Charles III is centred on a Christian service. The Coronation will also see, for the first time, members of other faiths playing an active role in events. These two dimensions reflect the long history of the monarchy and traditions of coronation; the Christian beliefs and role of HM The King; and also His commitment to the continued development of the harmonious coexistence of people of different faiths, beliefs and cultures in the UK and in the Commonwealth. It will be a powerful symbolic expression of how a person’s deep rootedness in one tradition – for HM The King, the Christian faith – can give rise to, and be manifested in, respectful and positive engagement with people of other faiths and beliefs.”
Read the Coronation liturgy and the commentary from the Church of England.
CTE Presidents call for a period of prayer leading up to the Coronation.
