Yesterday – the Coronation of King Charles III, and Queen Camilla, was, without doubt, an historic day, a momentous occasion, a beautiful service, inspirational music, gorgeous regalia, potent symbols and promises made in faith….. and of course typical British weather………all coming together to make something spectacular and unforgettable.

From the first strains of Parry’s ‘I was Glad’, interwoven for this occasion with Vivat Regina Camilla, Vivat Rex Carolus… Long Live Queen Camilla, long live King Charles…to the haunting Welsh of the specially composed Kyrie eleison sung by Bryn Terfel, it was clear that this was going to be really special. Something that demonstrated an intertwining of old and new, a bringing together of things of significance from Charles’ life and service as Prince of Wales, and weaving together a diverse mix of music, culture and people.

A Coronation then, both of ancient lineage, redolent with historic connections – the Coronation Chair made by Edward 1 – its golden gilding, not surprisingly, after more than 700 years, only visible in patches – and of new and exciting moments – a Gospel Choir singing the Gospel Acclamation, an invitation offered for everyone to join in paying homage and swearing allegiance to the King – the first time the public have been given any role in a Coronation service.

And people of every age, race and background, forming part of the service, taking leading roles and represented in the congregation, the crowds in London and those watching and joining in around the whole world. Faith leaders and representatives of other faith communities processed into the Abbey at the beginning of the service and were thanked personally by King Charles at the end.

So many people have already spoken of how our coronation celebrations here in Peterborough are bringing together our wonderfully diverse community as we celebrate together both the coronation of our King and each other in our oneness and our difference  – it is exciting and glorious and much needed.

But above and beyond all this was something even deeper, more powerful and more important still.

At the very beginning of the service, the King is greeted by a child, 14 year old Samuel Strachan, the longest serving chorister of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal who stands with remarkable composure before the King and says ‘Your Majesty, as children of the kingdom of God we welcome you in the name of the King of Kings.’

In the Abbey, that place of extraordinary significance in our history and our faith – the boy stands before the King – both of them, all of us, children of God together.

Right from the start the reign of a new king of earth, is given the true nature of kingship – bestowed on one of the children of God, by the one who is King of Kings – the first-born of all creation – the one for whom we all exist – the one who is, as we shall sing in this service ‘Lord of Lords and King Eternal’.

And yet the nature of the kingship of Jesus the King is service of others. As the Archbishop of Canterbury said at the beginning of his address ‘We are here to crown a King and we crown a King to serve.’

The King kneels before the Archbishop, and places his hand on the Bible – ‘a lively oracle’ as the Moderator of the Church of Scotland described it, containing everything he may require and representing the authority of God, and swears a solemn vow of his commitment to serve God, and his people.

A King of the earth, crowned to serve the people, under the Kingship of the King of Heaven.

And so when the King is crowned, he faces not the people, but the altar.

The altar representing the place of true power and authority, won not through strength and might, but in humility and service, in being prepared to give even life itself – the service of deepest love.

Before the crowning, the King is anointed – stripped of all Kingly attire, and in a simple linen shirt, receives the power of the divine to live out his high calling, and is blessed with the oil of Chrism, the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In the ancient traditions of the Coronation we are reminded of a truth for all time – that all power comes only from God – and that to be a King or a Queen is not about power and status, wealth and privilege – but is a calling to give one’s life in service under God, living in acceptance of our own weakness in order to let God live through us for the good of all and for the flourishing of life.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his friends that he is the way, the truth and the life – who shows us what God is like and who leads us to the same closeness with God that he has.

To accept this way, truth and life, is in effect, to receive the Kingdom of Heaven like a little child.

In all the debates about monarchy that preceded the coronation and whether or not we approve of the Royal Family as individuals, one thing that was very clear yesterday was that it is not about a human hierarchy in which some lord it over others – but that those who hold highest office in the land are simply children of God as we all are, and are also subject to a higher authority under which their power, such as it is, is to be used – not for their own aggrandizement, but in self-giving sacrificial service of others – not celebrity but something more akin to sainthood. Not that kings, queens, or any of us can readily claim that for ourselves, but that it is what we are to live up to, every one of us.

And under the Kingship of Christ, as Peter makes clear, we are all a chosen race, a royal priesthood a holy nation – God’s own people.

In the Coronation yesterday and in our celebrations in the City, and in this place where such stunning beauty of flowers in intricate arrangements and the symbols of our history and heritage tell the story of our interwoven lives,  we have come together as one people  – may we continue to serve each other, and to pray for Charles our King that in his service to us and to Christ his King, together as children of God we may find heaven on earth.

Amen.

Service: Reverend Michelle Dalliston. 7th May 2023. (St John The Baptist Church Peterborough UK)

Readings: Acts 7:55-end, 1 Peter 2:2-end, John 14:1-14