April 27, 2023
Churches are providing prayers and other resources for the Coronation of King Charles III, which will take place on 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey.
The Presidents of Churches Together in England (CTE) have also issued a statement encouraging Christians to join in daily prayers for the King and the nation from Easter Day through to 6 May.
Catholic Church in England and Wales
The Bishops of England and Wales are asking Catholics to pray for His Majesty and the Queen from Wednesday 3 May until Friday 5 May 2023 and have made a prayer card available on the Catholic Church in England and Wales website.
Church of England
The Church of England has produced a book of prayers, which combines themed daily readings and shares features of the Coronation Ceremony, exploring the Christian symbolism behind it.
The readings also reflect the value that King Charles III places on charitable work, environmentalism, volunteering and community life.
The Daily Prayers are available to order as a booklet from Church House Publishing.
They will also be available free via email and audio via the Church of England website and social media.
Other resources are also available, including a special Commemoration Service for the Coronation; a service of Holy Communion; a Vigil of Prayer ahead of the Coronation; an information pack; and a publicity toolkit.
An online service for the Coronation of King Charles III will be streamed from the Church of England’s website, and Facebook and YouTube channels, on Sunday 7 May 2023, and made available on-demand immediately after its conclusion.
Church of Ireland
The Liturgical Advisory Committee (LAC) of the Church of Ireland has published several prayers for use in churches marking the Coronation. The material includes two prayers for the King, one of which has been used at Coronations over the centuries (this prayer is available in traditional and contemporary language), a prayer for Queen Consort, and a short series of intercessions.
Speaking about the prayers, LAC Chaplain the Revd Adrian Dorrian, said: “Parishes will be marking the Coronation with community events, special programmes and during acts of worship. We hope that these prayers may be useful for those planning services leading up to and following the Coronation.”
Download from the Church of Ireland website.
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland has published a reflection, prayers and worship materials for use before and after the Coronation.
You can read the reflection from the Very Rev Dr Lorna Hood OBE, and the worship materials are available to download as a PDF, from the Church of Scotland website.
Church in Wales
The Bench of Bishops of the Church in Wales wishes to encourage churches to pray for the King, the Royal Family, our nation and the Commonwealth.
Some prayers are available to download adapted from material published by the Church of England in 1977 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee and published in bilingual format. The Church in Wales says that some substantial changes have been made, for example through the inclusion of an entirely new text which offers prayer for the Senedd and for Westminster and recognises the constitutional nature of the British monarchy. The prayers are suitable for use at the Eucharist as well as at Morning and Evening Prayer.
The Welsh Bishops have also authorised a list of amendments to royal prayers within Church in Wales liturgies necessary following the accession of King Charles.
For more details and to download, please see the Church in Wales website.
Hope Together
Hope Together has produced a special prayer that could be added into a specific or normal service to bring a Coronation focus.
It has also produced a Souvenir Gospel to celebrate the Coronation.
United Reformed Church (URC)
The URC has a prayer for the Coronation on its website.
