The Abbey Service

New Zealand Listener, Volume 28, Issue 724, 29 May 1953, Page 6

The Abbey Service

vividly illustrates the continuity of our _ national history, the continuity of its Christian. profession, the continuity of the Church of England and its faith: there is nothing which So deeply illustrates the union between Sovereign and people and between both and God as this sacred, solemn, splendid ceremony of the Queen’s Coronation." -The Archbishop of Canterbury é [ is nothing which so

FTAHE Coronation Service in Westminster Abbey is a ceremony of great beauty and impressive drama. It emphasises the supreme religious significance of the Crowning, for as the Archbishop -of Canterbury says at the moment of enthroning, the Queen ascends the throne "in the Name and by the Authority of Almighty God." The Service opens with the Litany, which is sung as the Dean, Prebendaries and choir of Westminster proceed from the altar to the West Door of the Church to await the Queen’s arrival. The Archbishops, Bishops, and dignitaries of State being assembled, the procession is formed outside the West Door. On the approach of Her Majesty the procession enters the Church. As soon as the Queen enters the West Door the choir sing the anthem, "I Was Glad When They Said Unto Me," from Psalm 122 (Hubert Parry). The Queen stands by King Edward’s Chair while the Archbishop of Canterbury, with the Lord Chancellor, Lord Great Chamberlain, Lord’ High Constable, and Earl Marshal (Garter King of Arms preceding them) goes first to the east, and then to the other three sides of the Theatre and says: "Sirs, I here present unto you Queen Elizabeth, your undoubted Queen. . ." The people respond with shouts of "God Save Queen Elizabeth.’ The Oath The Archbishop administers the Oath saying, "Will you solemnly promise anc Swear to govern the Peoples of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, anc Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia New Zealand, the Union of South Africa. Pakistan and Ceylon, and of your Possessions and the other Territories to any of them belonging or pertaining, according to their respective laws and customs?" The Queen goes to the altar, lays her right hand upon the Bible, and says, "The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep. So _ help me God." The Queen kisses the Book and signs the. oath on the Coronation Roll. ‘The Bible is brought from the altar by the Dean of Westminster and handed to the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Archbishop, saying, "Our Gracious Queen: to keep Your Majesty ever mindfu! of the Law and the Gospel of God as the Rule for the whole life and government of Christian Princes, we

present you with this Book, the most valuable thing that this.world affords." The. Moderator continues: "Here is ‘Wisdom; this is the royal Law; these are the lively Oracles of God." The choir sing the Introit, "Behold, O God, Our Defender" (Herbert Howells). The appointed Epistle and Gospel from the Holy Bible are read, the singing of "Let My Prayer Come Up Into Thy Presence" (William H. Harris) intervening. This is followed by the Creed. (setting by Vaughan Williams). The Anointing The choir sing the ancient hymn "Come Holy Ghost" (arranged by Ernest Bullock), followed by the anthem

"Zadok the Priest" (Handel). The Queen goes to King Edward’s Chair; four Knights of the Garter hold over her a pall of cloth of gold; the Dean brings the Ampulla containing consecrated oil and the Spoon, and hands the Spoon to the Archbishop. The Archbishop anoints the Queen, ending with these words: ". . . so be thou anointed, blessed, and consecrated Queen over the Peoples whom the Lord your God hath given thee to rule and govern, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." _ The Spurs are brought from the altar by the Dean, who hands them to the

Lord Great Chamberlain. Kneeling down he presents them to the Queen, who forthwith sends them back to the altar. The Sword of State is brought by .the Lord Chamberlain and handed to the Archbishop who gives it to Her Majesty, saying, "With this Sword do justice." The Queen carries the Sword and offers it at the altar. After the Queen has been invested with the Coronation bracelets of gold and the Royal robes, the Orb with the Cross is brought and put into the Quéen’s hands with the words: "Receive this Orb set under the Cross, and, re-, member that the whole world is subject

to the Power. and Empire of Christ our Redeemer. hi A jewelled ring i§f™placed upon the fourth finger of ‘Her Majesty's right hand, and then she is given the Sceptre with the Cross. Then into her Jeft hand is given the Rod with the Dove. The Putting On of the Crown After making a prayer at the altar with St. Edward's Crown in his hands, the Archbishop, assisted by other Bishops, comes to the "Coronation Chair from the altar. The. Dean bfings | the Crown, and. the Archbishop reverently places it upon the Quéen’s head. When this is done the people there present shout "God Save the Queen." The trumpets sound, and the great guns of the Tower of London are shot. off. The choir sings the ‘"Confortare" (George Dyson). Now that the Queen is anointed and crowned, a blessing is given by the Archbishop, The enthroning then takes place. The ‘Queen goes to the. Throne ‘and is lifted up into it by the Archbishops and Bishops and other peers. The great Officers of State and others who carried the Regalia take their places around the Throne as the Arghbishop delivers an exhortation, ae ee The Archbishop. now kneels" down before Her. Majesty and, with. ‘the -other Bishops, expresses his fealty, saying that they will be "faithful and "Next the: Duke of Edinburgh and the Roya! Dukes pay their homage, ‘followed by ‘the other peers of the realm in order of ranking, who are represented by the senior spokesman swearing to become \"your liege man of life and limb." While the homage is in progress the choir sings five anthems: "Rejoice in the Lord" (John. Redford); "O Clap Your Hands" (Orlando Gibbons), "I Will Not Léave.. You Comfortless" (William Byr 40. Lord Our Governor" (Healey and "Thou "Keep Him in ~*~ Peace" (S. S. Wesley). ¢ Communion ° 1 those th a then sing the Offereee hymn, "AN People That on Earth do Dwell" (arranged by Vaughan Williams), The Queen, divested of her Crown and other regalia, goes to the altar and offers the Bread and Wine which are brought to her. Then she makes oblations of gold and rich cloth. The Duke of Edinburgh kneels at her side’ before the altar. During. the Communion Service the -choir sings the Sanctus from the Mass in G Minor (Vaughan Williams), a short motet by the same composer, "Gloria in| Excelsis" (C. V. Stanford), and concludes with a Threefold Amen (Orlando Gibbons). The Communion Service ends with the Blessing pronounced by the Archbishop. The choir sings the Te Deum (setting composed by William Walton), and this is followed by a fanfare sounded by the trumpeters, In the last part of the service, called the Recess, the Queen, attended as before and carrying the Sceptre and "Rod, | goes into St. Edward’s Chapel. Here she is divested of the Royal Robe of State and arrayed with a robe of velvet. She then proceeds to the West Door wearing now the Imperial Crown and carrying the Sceptre with the Cross and Orb. The procession is greeted with the singing of the National Anthem and the playing of a Coronation March (Arnold Bax).