In summary:
- King Charles makes history by being the first monarch to pray aloud at his coronation service, asking to be a “blessing” to those of every faith and conviction.
- The coronation liturgy evolves to include the active participation of non-Christian faith leaders, reflecting and celebrating Britain’s multicultural society.
- The King’s prayer and the Archbishop’s sermon emphasize the importance of service, unity, and the transforming love of God for all people.
King Charles has made history by being the first monarch to pray aloud at his Coronation service, asking to be a “blessing” to those “of every faith and conviction”.
The monarch’s words embody his deeply held conviction that it is his responsibility to serve all communities.
Drawing inspiration from the Biblical passage in Galatians 5 and the well-known hymn, I Vow To Thee My Country, the prayer reflects a modern interpretation of ancient traditions.
The coronation liturgy has its origins in the crowning of King Edgar at Bath Abbey in 973 AD and has been adapted over time to resonate with contemporary society.
In a groundbreaking move, the service included the active participation of non-Christian faith leaders, highlighting and celebrating the multicultural fabric of Britain.
Read on to find the King’s prayer and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s sermon in their entirety.
The King’s prayer in full
God of compassion and mercy whose Son was sent not to be served but to serve, give grace that I may find in thy service perfect freedom and in that freedom knowledge of thy truth.
Grant that I may be a blessing to all thy children, of every faith and belief, that together we may discover the ways of gentleness and be led into the paths of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s sermon in full
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 chains of injustice. The blind see. The bruised and broken-hearted are healed.
That Kingdom sets the aims of all righteous government, all authority. And the Kingdom also sets the means of all government and authority. Jesus doesn’t grasp power or hold onto status.
The King of Kings, Jesus Christ, was anointed not to be served, but to serve. He creates the unchangeable law 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, 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 organisations, you build community, you serve the nation in Armed Forces, in emergency services, and so many other ways. Next door are 400 or more extraordinary young people in St Margaret’s, whose lives speak of service. Around the world in the Realms and Commonwealth are so many more. You live your lives for the sake of others.
The unity you show, the example you give, is what binds us together and offers societies that are strong, joyful, happy and glorious. They bear heavy weights for us.
The weight of the task given you today, Your Majesties, 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, because, as the first reading tells us, God will give all things for our sake, even His 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 a promise beyond measure, joy beyond dreams, and hope that endures. By that prayer, for every King, every ruler, and, yes, for all of us, we are opened to the transforming love of God.
