Are you ready for this weekend's Coronation gatherings and celebrations? Churches and congregations from around the diocese have been hard at work preparing to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
During the coronation service, King Charles III will take an oath to maintain “the settlement of the Church of England and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established.”
From that moment on, the King will be known as the Defender of the Faith; a tradition that goes back almost 500 years and positions him as the head of the Church of England. Such a special event in the Christian calendar deserves a special celebration, and there are plenty of celebrations being held around the diocese:
This week
On the week before the coronation, St Mary’s in Sixpenny Handley showed its support for the royal event with an evening concert “fit for a King.” The audience was taken around the world in 80 minutes through a variety of musical genres,
Salisbury Cathedral is displaying its magnificent replica of Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation robe this week from Tuesday 2 - Saturday 6 May as part of their celebrations. The robe itself is made from purple pampas grass embroidered with gilded foliage and ferns and displayed in the Cathedrals St Lawrence Chapel.
- The Minster, Wimborne will be hosting Public Prayers and Readings for King and Country on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 6pm. On Friday evening, the eve of the Coronation, at 7.30pm there will be a Civic Service at which Archdeacon Antony will preach and Bishop Karen will give the blessing.
Over the weekend:
- On Coronation Day itself at The Minster, Wimborne, the Coronation will be shown on large screens. Following the Coronation The Town Crier, Chris Brown will give the ‘Coronation Cry’ on the Minster Green and this will be followed by a full peal on the Minster Bells starting at 2.30pm. During services on the Sunday there will be special prayers for The King and Queen . Over lunchtime The Minster will join with the Town by holding the Big Lunch on The Minster Green. While Monday sees the ‘Volunteer Day’ being run by the Town Council and there will be Charity Stalls on the Minster Green appealing for Volunteers to help the different Charities.
- In Baydon, St Nicholas Church is putting on an Organ Recital this Saturday in honour of King Charles III. The recital will follow a Thanksgiving Service and coffee in the church at 9.30 am, with invitations open for all to come join.
- Elsewhere, the Churches of Spetisbury, Charlton Marshall and St Mary’s are hosting a variety of events at each their churches throughout the morning of the coronation. Kicking off at 9.30am, a service will be held at Spetisbury, set to be followed by some celebratory drinks. At 10am, Tarrant Keyneston will be providing bacon bap, coffee and croissants in church, followed by a service for all ages. And finally at Charlton Marshall, a family church service at 11am is planned to be followed by a community picnic on the grass between the church and the river.
- In Fordington, St George’s Church is holding its own Coronation Celebration Service along with a complementary afternoon tea so that all who attend can continue their celebrations. For more information, please contact Revd Cora Yarrien at 01305 262421.
- Sherborne Abbey is holding a service for the coronation at 3pm on Friday, at which Bishop Karen will preach. Local schols are also involved in the service.
- Salisbury Cathedral is screening the Coronation service, doors open at 9.30am on Saturday. A special service will be held on 7 May at 3.30pm at whcih Bishop Stephen will be preaching.
We will add to this list througout the week.
That’s it from the round-up, but we hope you have a joyous weekend filled with celebrations, and can’t wait to see what the diocese gets up to! If you have any stories to share, let us know at comms@salisbury.anglican.org.