According to some sources, King Charles III and the Archbishop of Canterbury are at odds over the role “other faiths” might play in the Cornonation next month. The well-known Catholic religious commentator, Catherine Pepinster has written:
“Is it wise for the Christianity of the Coronation – an ancient ceremony dating back more than 1,000 years – to be diluted so that, in the name of diversity, other faiths are included? Anglican canon law effectively rules out representatives of other faiths being actively involved in services if those faiths do not accept the Holy Trinity of Christian doctrine – the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.”
Daily Mail 11/4/23
With all due respect to Ms Pepinster, I am not sure she is an authority on Anglican canon law, so we shall see about that aspect of the matter. But the King has raised, as was his wont as Prince of Wales, an interesting question when it comes to “faiths.”
The title “defender of the faith,” was given to Henry VIII by the Pope for his defence of the faith against Lutheran assaults, and it has been retained by all subsequent monarchs. The late Queen, whose life of service provides abundant evidence of the way her faith inspired her, took the view that being defender of the Christian faith did not mean excluding other faiths. It has been pointed out by some critics that no other faith would allow the presence of other religions at their sacred events, but is that a good reason to imitate a bad example? Christianity is for all who will receive it, and how will they do that if we shut ourselves off in our own little solipsism? Is it not rather a sign of strength that the King is confident enough in his own faith and that of the Church of which he is supreme governor, that he wants other faiths to have some sort of presence at the Cornonation?
We must always beware of hypothesising ahead of the facts – not least as that is a common trope of the “culture wars.” Other faith leaders have made sensible comments:
Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the former founding Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: ‘It is appropriate the formal ritualistic prayers of the Coronation ought to be Anglican as the King is from the Anglican faith. But the presence of other faith leaders will signify the importance that the King represents all the faith communities in the Kingdom.’ Pradip Gajjar, a Hindu leader, said: ‘This is a Christian ceremony for a Christian King. I don’t see a problem with that.’
Nor should Christians see a problem with the King’s Coronation making appropriate acknowledgement of the other faiths practices by those over whom he rules. The key word is, of course, “appropriate”. But, the lurid imagination of the critics aside, is there any reason to suppose that the King, the Archbishop and those who advise them, would do anything against canon law? Of course, to some, the idea, put forward by the then Prince Charles back in 2015, that he saw himself as ‘defender of all faiths,” is anathema, but in the unlikely event that they migh stop to think, a moment’s reflection might suggest that in an age marked, in the West, by an aggressive secularism, people of all faiths have a common interest. They may not agree of the nature of God, but they do agree on rejecting the simple binaries of post-Enlightenment thought. They agree with Hamlet’s words to Horation “There are more things on heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
A cornonation, the first (and for some of us probably the last) many of us will have seen in our lifetime, is a mystical event. The annointing of the Monarch with Holy Oil was considered so sacred that a veil was drawn over it at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation; it will be interesting to see how it will be handled this time. But it is entirely appropriate that a Christian monarch should wish other faiths to be represented at such a time.
All Along the Watchtower 
I agree with you – the King represents all his people.
Let’s all pray that only Anglicans are part of the actual coronation process. It would be horrible beyond mention if leaders of different faiths were to be given parts to play in that coronation process.
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I received on Palm Sunday a booklet of prayers for the King leading up to the coronation prepared by the Church of England.
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Was it sound and orthodox?
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It’s a daily prayer diary, so I haven’t read the whole thing yet, but it looks okay so far.
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Here’s hoping …
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I expect Alys will also have received a copy. They were sent to our vicar by our diocesan bishop.
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She hasn’t mentioned it but her area just got a new bishop – of (and forgive me, I don’t know how to spell it but you’ll recognize it) Oswether. Sorry – I’m embarrassed I can’t spell it, lol.
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Oswestry? That’s one of the Anglo-Catholic flying bishops, I believe. He has also been involved in promoting the BCP. I’ve actually become more fond of Common Worship over the BCP for Holy Communion services. Although some forms of the eucharistic prayer I find a bit woolly, for want of a better word. I’ve been to Oswestry, which is near Wales, in Shropshire I believe.
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Yes! Exactly – Oswestry. Thank you for not laughing so loud I heard it. Yes; Anglo-Catholic.
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Our parish is middle of the road Anglican so we have a normal relationship with the diocese and our suffragan bishop. Our APCM is being held next week.
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It looked fine to me 🙂
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It’s nice to have a daily opportunity to do that sort of thing, so I’m pleased the booklet was produced.
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Having my hands full with the cultural and political changes in my own backyard I have no insight into the mood or social upheaval that your country may be involved in at the new Coronation. I do think, however, that our plights are quite similar, as they are throughout what we used to call Western culture. Change for change sake vs. tradition for tradition’s sake or nuanced change which respects the traditions of the people who are invested by a long heritage of the customs and traditions of their native country. Therein one must always wonder if the changes are natural or if they are manufactured for some other objective; hopefully without being smeared as a conspiracy theorist.
Going back to your analogy on the river that may be flowing so fast that we are simply confused as we can’t keep up with all the changes. I suppose that a good analogy if the rising river and the rains that caused them were naturally occurring and we understood what will happen and how it will end as these natural things have occurred throughout history.
The problem may be, and seems true to what I see, that the rain is itself a man made seeding of the clouds which seems to benefit only the political and elitists of the countries; pandering to a new supermajority to hold onto power or keep power where the voice of the people might not agree with such actions. In other words is this going to be a natural outgrowth that is led by those who are invested in the culture or is this a flood that overflows its banks, makes tributaries flow backwards and destroys everything that has been and makes it uninhabitable? Civilizations die and some by natural events like floods or earthquakes but it is more likely that we some elites re purposefully engineering our own civilizational collapse.
Not that such changes in the Coronation are indicative of that on its own but in the fact that it is even an important topic for your country . . . and I am supposing that you did not experience something similar in your history before now . . . though I am not an astute historian on such issues. Anyway, it does seem to be an historic decision that is about to be made and I probably would take the tried and true path of holding onto that which worked in the past and not fretting over those who might find it off-putting or discriminatory since it is, after all, simply the way things have always been done. If it is so important to those who oppose the ways of the country they adopted (or invaded or whatever your position is on these things) then perhaps you should reconsider where you might want to go and what country to adopt as your own,.
Just noodling away on your dilemma and I’m sure my take on your society and problems is purely American with next to no knowledge at all to how the Brits take this matter to heart.
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Like Scoop, I’m no expert. Mostly we got over the monarchy back with the Hanoverians on the other hand, over the last century as we have become closer to ‘the cousins’, the monarchy has been an incredible strength for the UK. We all know that Protestants don’t do ceremony well, Lutherans as well as Anglicans do ceremony best when it is derived from our Catholic forebears and the traditional coronation is the ultimate example.
Personally, I’ve never really warmed to King Charles III, which is neither here nor there, he seems rather ordinary, perhaps a return to what historically has been sometimes great, sometimes awful, and often mediocre. Still it’s a CofE service and should conform to what that church has done historically, bearing in mind that the population is not close to what it was in 1953. Observers, pre and/or post ceremony, prayers, or some kind of notice is justified, modification of the service is, in my eyes, not. Heis the Supreme Head
of the Church of England, not any other.
But I’m glad it’s not my problem.
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There’s a scene in the tv series The Crown, where someone tries to explain the monarchy. It maintains that you get one or the other – the plodders and then the great ones. Elizabeth was the last great monarch so let’s guess what Charles will be …
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The 20th Century was pretty incredible. From King George V to Elizabeth II the only dud was the Duke of Windsor, and they shuffled him off stage right quickly.
The policy of allowing the Royals to marry outside the German rules really paid off for them. Especially with the Queen Mother.
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For the believers there is always this:
Athanasius contra mundum (Athanasius against the world)
“May God console you!… What saddens you … is the fact that others [Arian heretics] have occupied the churches by violence, while during this time you are on the outside. It is a fact that they have the premises — but you have the apostolic Faith. They can occupy our churches, but they are outside the true Faith. You remain outside the places of worship, but the faith dwells within you. Let us consider: what is more important, the place or the Faith? The true Faith, obviously.”
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Reminds me of priest holes and cloak and dagger Mass during Tudor times. It may yet come to that. Traditional Christians are being accused of being safeguarding risks, etc. Sometimes I feel nervous just saying out loud that I believe Jesus will return.
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Indeed. If I could find a Traditional Latin Mass close to home (anywhere they want to say it) I’d go. The secular world and the modernism of the Church is driving people from pews and sending others to groups like the SSPX. I too think that real persecution is coming but not sure if it will be a national or a Church offense that will lock us up in the beginning.
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The picture of the woman riding the beast in Revelation seems apt. A marriage of convenience to persecute orthodox Christians and then the beast will turn on the woman when he has no further use for her.
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