Crowning glory

It was completely overcast and raining when I woke up at half past seven, in good time to hear 'Thought for the Day' with the Archbishop of Canterbury on this most auspicious occasion for the United Kingdom. Rain destined to sweep across the whole of southern Britain and make this a damp if not wet Coronation Day, just as it was on 6th June 1953, when Queen Elizabeth was crowned. 

We didn't have telly. but were able to listen to the service on the radio, with the sonorous voice of ex war correspondent Richard Dimbleby narrating the event from Westminster Abbey. Amazing to think that his broadcaster son David, now 84 years old, is a friend of King Charles. It's such a blessing to be alive to watch the day's events unfold from the comfort of my own home seventy years on. 

We had to wait several weeks to watch a black and white film of the Coronation at Ystrad Mynach cinema back in 1953. I was just eight years old. In school in the weeks beforehand, we were taught about the regalia used in the ceremony. I don't recall learning much about the ceremony or how to understand it when the school went out to see the film, but it did make an impression on me, of great seriousness and sacredness surrounding this state church ritual. Come to think of it, that was my introduction to the special terms used by church sacristans to describe sacred objects. I wasn't introduced to serving at the altar and extending my sacristy vocabulary for another ten years, when I was a student in Bristol. 

Clare cooked waffles for breakfast. Then we switched on the telly and saw the arrival of heads of state and some celebrity guests at Westminster Abbey, though by ten o'clock the majority of the 2000 guests were already in place. The radio commentary had mentioned the arrival of Archbishop Rowan to take his place in the congregation at around half past eight - such a long wait! Around a quarter to eleven the King and Queen left Buckingham Palace for the Abbey accompanied by the Foot Guards of the Royal Household Division and the service started on time at eleven and finished at one. 

It was rich with beautiful liturgical music. Bryn Terfel sang a Kyrie Eleison in Welsh with the choir. Later a Greek Orthodox choir sang a Psalm in Greek. There was a Latin Gloria in Excelsis, an Alleluia sung by an African choir, and a plainsong Veni Creator Spiritus with verses in English, Welsh, Scots Gaelic and Irish. The Coronation ritual was largely unchanged, except for some inclusive texts which made clear the King's intention to be the defender of all faith communities, and the servant of all the nation's people. The anointing rite was shielded from view for privacy behind beautifully decorated cloth screens one of which bore an image of the Tree of Life. A lovely creative touch. 

Archbishop Justin's homily was concise and remarkable as it was clearly addressed to the whole nation and not just that congregation of church people. For him a rare if not unique occasion to speak of the meaning of the King's ministry to the country. Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist faith leaders took part in presenting him with symbols of office during the Coronation rite, and at the end of the service they greeted him on his way out with their own declaration of loyalty. A significant and worthwhile innovation. The whole occasion was deeply thought through and superbly executed, as was the 5000 strong military parade that followed. The whole event made a statement about what British identity means in the twenty first century. It sets the tone for life together in this new Carolingian era. There are many aspects of life under today's government which make me feel ashamed, but today's celebration makes me proud to be British in equal measure. Just about.

Although there had been rain early on, it slackened to a drizzle then stopped. By the time we had a snack lunch it dry enough to go for a walk in the park while waiting for Owain to come over and spend the night with us. We ate supper together and whiled away the evening chatting and watching telly.