7 Christian elements to look for in King Charles III’s coronation ceremony

By Anugrah Kumar, Christian Post Contributor Thursday, May 04, 2023

The anointing screen, which will be used in the coronation of King Charles III and has been handmade by the Royal School of Needlework, as it stands in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace in London on April 24, 2023, in London, England. The most important moment in the coronation is the 'unction,' the sacred act of anointing a monarch with holy oil, which can be traced as far back as the seventh and eighth centuries, and signals that the monarch has been chosen by God. It is only seen by the sovereign and the Archbishop of Canterbury and will take place behind the anointing screen. The Coronation of King Charles III and The Queen Consort will take place on May 6, part of a three-day celebration. — The anointing screen, which will be used in the coronation of King Charles III and has been handmade by the Royal School of Needlework, as it stands in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace in London on April 24, 2023, in London, England. The most important moment in the coronation is the "unction," the sacred act of anointing a monarch with holy oil, which can be traced as far back as the seventh and eighth centuries, and signals that the monarch has been chosen by God. It is only seen by the sovereign and the Archbishop of Canterbury and will take place behind the anointing screen. The Coronation of King Charles III and The Queen Consort will take place on May 6, part of a three-day celebration. | Victoria Jones - WPA Pool/Getty Images

1. King Charles will be anointed with holy oil

The anointing, which occurs prior to the investiture and crowning of the king, involves the Dean of Westminster pouring sacred oil from the golden ampulla into the coronation spoon. Subsequently, the Archbishop of Canterbury anoints the monarch in the form of a cross on his hands, chest and head.

The Archbishop of Canterbury will pray, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered to offer worship and praise to Almighty God; to celebrate the life of our nations; to pray for Charles, our king; to recognize and to give thanks for his life of service to this nation, to the realms, and to the Commonwealth; and to witness with joy his crowning and anointing, as he is set apart and consecrated for the service of his people. Let us dedicate ourselves alike, in body, mind, and spirit, to a renewed faith, a joyful hope, and a commitment to serve one another in love.”

As King Charles is anointed with holy oil, the monarch will be surrounded on three sides by an ornate, embroidered screen designed by iconographer Aidan Hart, according to The Telegraph, which says the screen celebrates the Commonwealth and will keep the king hidden from the congregation inside Westminster Abbey during his intimate moment with God.

Queen Elizabeth, during her intensely private moment during her 1953 coronation, was concealed from the public eye by a canopy.

“The screen is there to provide privacy to the most sacred part of the ceremony,” project leader Nick Gutfreund was quoted as saying. “Previously, the canopy only offered figurative privacy. Now, this three-sided screen ensures absolute privacy during the process.”