King’s coronation order of service: Follow ceremony including hymns, prayers and readings

The service for the King’s coronation is centred around the theme of ‘called to serve’ and his solemn vow to God, the people of the nations and the realms.

For almost a thousand years, Westminster Abbey, with the shrine of St Edward, King and Confessor, at its heart, has remained the place of coronation for the country’s monarchs.

Beginning at 11am on Saturday, the ceremony will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and several choirs will take part. Here is the order of service:

The King and Queen Consort will enter the abbey through the great west door as the choir sings I Was Glad, which was originally composed by Hubert Parry for the coronation of Edward VII in 1902:
I was glad when they said unto me:
We will go into the house of the Lord.
Our feet shall stand in thy gates,
O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is builded as a city, that is at unity in itself.
Vivat Regina Camilla! Vivat!
Vivat Rex Carolus! Vivat!
O pray for the peace of Jerusalem,
They shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls,
and plenteousness within thy palaces.

Their Majesties will move through the church to the chairs of estate in the coronation theatre. The regalia, Bible, paten, and chalice are placed on the altar.

All remain standing.

Samuel Strachan, child of his Majesty’s chapel royal, addresses the King:
Your Majesty, as children of the kingdom of God we welcome you in the name of the King of kings.

The King replies:
In his name and after his example I come not to be served but to serve.

Their Majesties remain standing at the chairs of estate in silent prayer.

The Archbishop of Canterbury gives the greeting and introduction:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.
And with thy spirit.
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

All sit.

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 recognise and to give thanks for his life of service to this nation, the realms, and the Commonwealth.

And to witness with joy his anointing and crowning, his being 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.

The choir, together with Sir Bryn Terfel, sings Kyrie eleison by Paul Mealor, composed for this service:
Arglwudd, trugarhâ, Crist, trugarhâ. Arglwydd, trugarhâ. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

:: THE RECOGNITION

The King moves to stand west of the coronation chair and turns to face east. The archbishop says:
I here present unto you King Charles, your undoubted King: Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?

All respond: God save King Charles.

A fanfare is sounded. The King turns to face south. Lady Elish Angiolini says:
I here present unto you King Charles, your undoubted King: Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?

All respond: God save King Charles.

A fanfare is sounded. The King turns to face west. Christopher Finney says:
I here present unto you King Charles, your undoubted King: Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?

All respond: God save King Charles.

A fanfare is sounded. The King turns to face north. Baroness Amos says:
I here present unto you King Charles, your undoubted King: Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?

All respond: God save King Charles.

A fanfare is sounded as the King returns to the chair of estate and sits.

:: THE PRESENTING OF THE HOLY BIBLE

Dr Iain Greenshields, moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, receives the Bible from the Dean of Westminster and presents it to the King, saying:
Sir, to keep you ever mindful of the law and the Gospel of God as the rule for the whole life and government of Christian princes, receive this book, the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is wisdom; this is the royal law; these are the lively oracles of God.

:: THE OATHS

The moderator receives the Bible and places it before the King. The King stands and the archbishop says:
Your Majesty, the church established by law, whose settlement you will swear to maintain, is committed to the true profession of the Gospel, and, in so doing, will seek to foster an environment in which people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely.

The coronation oath has stood for centuries and is enshrined in law. Are you willing to take the oath?

The King replies:
I am willing.

The King places his hand on the Bible, and the archbishop administers the oath:
Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the peoples of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, your other realms and the territories to any of them belonging or pertaining, according to their respective laws and customs?

The King replies:
I solemnly promise so to do.

The archbishop says:
Will you to your power cause law and justice, in mercy, to be executed in all your judgements?

The King replies:
I will.

The King kneels at the chair of estate. The archbishop says:
Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain in the United Kingdom the protestant reformed religion established by law?

Will you maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in England?

And will you preserve unto the bishops and clergy of England, and to the churches there committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges as by law do or shall appertain to them or any of them?

The King replies:
All this I promise to do.

The King places his hand on the Bible and says:
The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep. So help me God.

The King kisses the Bible. The archbishop says:
Your Majesty, are you willing to make, subscribe, and declare to the statutory accession declaration oath?

The King replies:
I am willing.

I Charles do solemnly and sincerely in the presence of God profess, testify, and declare that I am a faithful protestant, and that I will, according to the true intent of the enactments which secure the protestant succession to the throne, uphold and maintain the said enactments to the best of my powers according to law.

The King signs copies of the oaths, presented by the Lord Chamberlain, whilst the choir sings Prevent Us, O Lord, by William Byrd.

Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy name, and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The King kneels before the altar and says:
God of compassion and mercy whose son was sent not to be served but to serve, give grace that I may find in thy service perfect freedom and in that freedom knowledge of thy truth.

Grant that I may be a blessing to all thy children, of every faith and belief, that together we may discover the ways of gentleness and be led into the paths of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The King returns to the chair of estate and sits.

The choir sings Gloria in excelsis Deo from Mass for Four Voices by William Byrd:
Gloria in excelsis Deo
et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.
Laudamus te,
benedicimus te,
adoramus te,
glorificamus te,
gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam,
Domine Deus, Rex cælestis,
Deus Pater omnipotens.
Domine Fili Unigenite, Iesu Christe,
Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris,
qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis;
qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram.
Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.
Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus,
Iesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu: in gloria Dei Patris.
Amen

Glory be to God on high,
and on earth peace, goodwill towards men.
We praise thee,
we bless thee,
we worship thee,
we glorify thee,
we give thanks to thee for thy great glory,
O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only,
O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

The archbishop says:
Let us pray.

All stand for the collect.

Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour: Look with favour upon thy servant Charles our King, and bestow upon him such gifts of wisdom and love that we and all thy people may live in peace and prosperity and in loving service one to another; to thine eternal glory, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit reignest supreme over all things, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

All sit.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reads the Epistle, from Colossians 1: 9-17:
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

All stand.

The choir sings a new commission by Debbie Wiseman composed for this service and based on Psalm 47.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O clap your hands together, all ye people;
O sing unto God with the voice of melody.
For the Lord is high and to be feared.
He is the great King upon all the earth.
Alleluia, alleluia!

Dame Sarah Mullally, Dean of His Majesty’s chapels royal, reads the Gospel:
The Lord be with you
And with thy spirit.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Glory be to thee, O Lord.

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor.

He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down.

And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, ‘this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears’.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise be to thee, O Christ.

The ascension choir sings music by Debbie Wiseman which was composed for this service and based on Psalm 47:
Alleluia, alleluia!
O sing praises, sing praises unto our God:
O sing praises, sing praises unto our King.
For God is the King of all the earth.
Alleluia, alleluia!

All sit.

The archbishop preaches the sermon.

:: THE ANOINTING

Their Majesties kneel at the chairs of estate.

The congregation kneels or remains seated.

The choir sings Veni Creator in English, Welsh, Gaelic, and Irish.

Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire.
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
Who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.

(Welsh)
O gynorthwyydd oddi fry,
Rhodd werthfawrocaf Duw wyt ti:
Ffynhonnell bywyd, dwyfol dân
Eneinia ni â’th Ysbryd Glân.

(Scots Gaelic)
Fada bhuain iomain ar nàmh
Agus builich sa bhad do ghràs
Ò, treòraich sinn, a Cheannaird àird
Bho bhuaidh gach beud agus cràdh.

(Irish Gaelic)
Go dtí dhíot gurb aithnid dúinn
An t-AthairMhac, a Spioraid, a rún,
Tú leo an Triúr i n-éinphearsa
Creidimis ionaibh tré bhiotha na mbeatha.

Praise to thy eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

***

Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire.
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
Who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.

Thy blessed unction from above
Is comfort, life, and fire of love.
Enable with perpetual light
The dullness of our blinded sight.

Anoint and cheer our soiled face
With the abundance of thy grace.
Keep far our foes, give peace at home:
Where thou art guide, no ill can come.

Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And thee, of both, to be but One.
That, through the ages all along,
This may be our endless song:

Praise to thy eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is presented with the holy oil by Dr Hosam Naoum, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem. The Archbishop of Canterbury says:

Blessed art thou, Sovereign God, upholding with thy grace all who are called to thy service. Thy prophets of old anointed priests and kings to serve in thy name and in the fullness of time thine only son was anointed by the Holy Spirit to be the Christ, the saviour and servant of all.

By the power of the same spirit, grant that this holy oil may be for thy servant Charles a sign of joy and gladness; that as King he may know the abundance of thy grace and the power of thy mercy, and that we may be made a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for thine own possession.

Blessed be God, our strength and our salvation, now and for ever. Amen.

The King is divested of the robe of state, and moves to sit in the coronation chair. The anointing screen, borne by representatives of the Household Division, is held around the coronation chair.

The choir sings Zadok the Priest by George Frideric Handel which was composed for the coronation of George II in 1727:

Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed Solomon king; and all the people rejoiced, and said: God save the King. Long live the King. May the King live forever. Hallelujah. Amen

During the anthem, the Archbishop of Canterbury anoints the King in the form of a cross: on the palm of both hands, saying:
Be your hands anointed with holy oil.

On the breast, saying:
Be your breast anointed with holy oil.

On the crown of the head, saying:
Be your head anointed with holy oil, as kings, priests, and prophets were anointed. And as Solomon was anointed king
by Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, so may you be anointed, blessed, and consecrated King over the peoples,
whom the Lord your God has given you to rule and govern; in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The anointing screen is removed. The King kneels before the altar and the archbishop says:
Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
who by his Father was anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows,
by his holy anointing pour down upon your head and heart the blessing of the Holy Spirit,
and prosper the works of your hands:
that by the assistance of his heavenly grace you may govern and preserve the peoples committed to your charge
in wealth, peace, and godliness;
and after a long and glorious course of ruling a temporal kingdom wisely, justly, and religiously,
you may at last be made partaker of an eternal kingdom,
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

:: THE INVESTITURE AND THE CROWNING

The King rises and is vested with the colobium sindonis, supertunica, and girdle.

The King sits in the coronation chair.

The spurs are brought from the altar by the Lord Great Chamberlain. The King touches them, and the archbishop says:
Receive these spurs, symbols of military honour and chivalry, that you may be a brave advocate for those in need.

The Byzantine Chant Ensemble sings Psalm 72. This moment has been specially commissioned to reflect His Majesty’s paternal heritage.

His late father, the Duke of Edinburgh, was born a prince of Greece, and as such, in a service so deeply reminiscent and steeped in the memories of the King’s late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, the Greek choir were invited to remind him of his father’s influence.

Θεός, τὸ κρίμα σου τῷ βασιλεῖ δὸς καὶ τὴν
δικαιοσύνην σου τῷ υἱῷ τοῦ βασιλέως κρίνειν
τὸν λαόν σου ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ καὶ τοὺς πτωχούς σου ἐν κρίσει.
Ἀλληλούΐα.

Κρινεῖ τοὺς πτωχοὺς τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ σώσει
τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν πενήτων καὶ ταπεινώσει
συκοφάντην. Ἀλληλούΐα.

Καὶ συμπαραμενεῖ τῷ ἡλίῳ καὶ πρὸ τῆς
σελήνης γενεὰς γενεῶν. Ἀλληλούΐα.

Ἀνατελεῖ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ δικαιοσύνη
καὶ πλῆθος εἰρήνης, ἕως οὗ ἀνταναιρεθῇ ἡ
σελήνη. Ἀλληλούΐα.

Δόξα Πατρί, καὶ Υἱῷ, καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι.
Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεί, καὶ εἰς τούς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.
Ἀμήν.

Κύριε, σῶσον τὸν Βασιλέα καὶ ἐπάκουσον
ἡμῶν ἐν ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρα ἐπικαλεσώμεθά σε.

Ἀλληλούϊα,
Ἀλληλούϊα,
Ἀλληλούϊα.
Δόξα σοι ὁ Θεός ἡμῶν, δόξα σοι.

Give the king your judgements, O God, and your righteousness to the son of a king.
Then shall he judge your people righteously and your poor with justice. Alleluia.

May he defend the poor among the people, deliver the children of the needy and crush the oppressor. Alleluia.

May he live as long as the sun and moon endure, from one generation to another. Alleluia.

In his time shall righteousness flourish, and abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more. Alleluia.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.

O Lord, save the king and answer us when we call upon you.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, our God, glory to you.

During the chant, the Lord President of the Council exchanges the sword of state for the jewelled sword of offering, and delivers it to the archbishop, who says:
Hear our prayers, O Lord, we beseech thee, and so direct and support thy servant King Charles, that he may not bear the Sword in vain; but may use it as the minister of God to resist evil and defend the good, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The jewelled sword of offering is placed into the King’s right hand. The archbishop says:
Receive this kingly Sword: may it be to you, and to all who witness these things, a sign and symbol not of judgement, but of justice; not of might, but of mercy.

The King rises. The sword is put upon the King, and he sits. The archbishop says:
With this sword do justice, stop the growth of iniquity, protect the holy Church of God and all people of goodwill, help and defend widows and orphans, restore the things that are gone to decay, maintain the things that are restored, punish and reform what is amiss, and confirm what is in good order:

That doing these things you may be glorious in all virtue; and so faithfully serve our Lord Jesus Christ in this life, that you may reign for ever with him in the life which is to come. Amen.

The King stands and offers the sword at the altar, where it is received by the Dean. The King returns to the coronation chair. The sword is redeemed and is returned to the Lord President of the Council.

The armills are brought from the altar by Lord Kamall. The King touches them, and the archbishop says:
Receive the bracelets of sincerity and wisdom, tokens of God’s protection embracing you on every side.

The robe royal is brought to the King by Baroness Merron. The stole royal is presented to the King by The Prince of Wales. The King is invested and sits in the coronation chair.

The archbishop says:
Receive this robe: may the Lord clothe you with the robe of righteousness, and with the garments of salvation.

The orb is brought from the altar by the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and Metropolitan. The Archbishop of Canterbury places it in the King’s right hand and says:
Receive this orb, set under the Cross, and remember always that the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our God, and of his Christ.

The orb is returned to the altar. The ring is brought from the altar by Lord Patel. The King touches the ring and the archbishop says:
Receive this ring, a symbol of kingly dignity, and a sign of the covenant sworn this day, between God and King, King and people.

The glove is brought forward by Lord Singh. The glove is put upon the King’s right hand. The archbishop says:
Receive this glove, that you may hold authority with gentleness and grace, trusting not in your own power but in the mercy of God.

The sceptre with cross and the sceptre with dove are brought from the altar by the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Archbishop of Wales. The Archbishop of Canterbury delivers them into the King’s right and left hands, and says:
Receive the royal sceptre, the ensign of kingly power and justice; and the rod of equity and mercy, a symbol of covenant and peace.

May the spirit of the Lord who anointed Jesus at his baptism, so anoint you this day, that you might exercise authority with wisdom, and direct your counsels with grace; that by your service and ministry to all your people, justice and mercy may be seen in all the earth.

All stand.

The Archbishop takes St Edward’s Crown into his hands and says:
King of kings and Lord of lords, bless, we beseech thee, this Crown, and so sanctify thy servant Charles upon whose head this day thou dost place it for a sign of royal majesty, that he may be crowned with thy gracious favour and filled with abundant grace and all princely virtues; through him who liveth and reigneth supreme over all things, one God, world without end. Amen.

The archbishop crowns the King. The archbishop says:
God save the King.

All respond:
God save the King.

The coronation brass ensemble plays Wiener Philharmoniker Fanfare by Richard Strauss, arranged by Paul Mealor.

The bells of the abbey are rung. A gun salute is fired by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery on Horse Guards Parade. This is accompanied by gun salutes at His Majesty’s Fortress the Tower of London fired by the Honourable Artillery Company, and at saluting stations throughout the United Kingdom, Gibraltar, Bermuda, and ships at sea.

All remain standing.

The Lord Archbishop of York and Primate of England, says:
Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you, and give you his peace.

The Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain says:
The Lord protect you in all your ways and prosper all your work in his name.

The Moderator of the Free Churches Group says:
The Lord give you hope and happiness, that you may inspire all your people
in the imitation of his unchanging love.

The General Secretary of Churches Together in England says:
The Lord grant that wisdom and knowledge be the stability of your times, and the fear of the Lord your treasure.

The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster says:
May God pour upon you the richness of his grace, bless you and keep you in his holy fear, prepare you for a happy eternity, and receive you at the last into immortal glory.

The Archbishop of Canterbury says:
And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you and remain with you always. Amen.

All sit.

The choir sings an anthem by Thomas Weelkes:
O Lord, grant the king a long life, that his years may endure throughout all generations.
Let him dwell before thee for ever.
O prepare thy loving mercy and faithfulness that they may preserve him. So shall we alway sing and praise thy name. Amen.

:: THE ENTHRONING AND THE HOMAGE

The King is enthroned, escorted by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and bishops assistant, surrounded by great officers of state. The Archbishop of Canterbury says:
I, Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, will be faithful and true, and faith and truth I will bear unto you, our sovereign Lord, defender of the faith; and unto your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.

The Prince of Wales kneels before the King and says:
I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you, and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God.

All stand.

The archbishop says:
I now invite those who wish to offer their support to do so, with a moment of private reflection, by joining in saying ‘God save King Charles’ at the end, or, for those with the words before them, to recite them in full.

All respond: I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.

A fanfare is sounded, after which the archbishop says:
God save the king.

All respond:
God save King Charles.
Long live King Charles.
May the King live for ever.

All sit.

The choir, together with Roderick Williams, will sing Confortare by Henry Walford-Davies, which was composed for the coronation of George VI in 1937:
Be strong, and show thy worth: keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways.

:: THE CORONATION OF THE QUEEN

The Archbishop of Canterbury anoints the Queen and says:
Be your head anointed with holy oil.
Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness; hear our prayer this day for thy servant Camilla, whom in thy name, and with all devotion, we consecrate our Queen; make her strong in faith and love, defend her on every side, and guide her in truth and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Queen’s ring is brought from the altar by the Keeper of the Jewel House. The Queen touches the ring. The archbishop says:
Receive this ring, a symbol of royal dignity and a sign of the covenant sworn this day.

The crown is brought from the altar. The Queen is crowned by the archbishop, who says:
May thy servant Camilla, who wears this crown, be filled by thine abundant grace and with all princely virtues; reign in her heart, O King of love, that, being certain of thy protection, she may be crowned with thy gracious favour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Queen’s sceptre and rod are brought from the altar by the Lord Chartres and Reverend Rose Hudson Wilkin, Bishop of Dover. The Queen touches them in turn. The archbishop says:
Receive the royal sceptre. Receive the Rod of equity and mercy.
May the Spirit guide you in wisdom and grace, that, by your service and ministry, justice and mercy may be seen in all the earth.

The Queen is enthroned, escorted by the archbishops and bishops assistant.

The choir sings an anthem by Andrew Lloyd Webber, composed for this service:

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord
for he hath done marvellous things
and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory.
He hath remembered his mercy
and his truth toward the house of Israel,
all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

O make a joyful noise unto the Lord all the earth.
Make a loud noise, rejoice and sing his praise.
Let the sea roar, the world and they that dwell within.
Let the floods clap their hands,
let the hills be joyful together.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all the earth.
Rejoice and sing his praise.
For he cometh to judge the earth.
And with righteousness shall he judge the world
and the people with equity.

O make a joyful noise unto the Lord all the earth.
Sing unto the Lord with the harp
and the voice of a psalm.
With trumpets and sound of cornet make a
joyful noise before the Lord, the King.

All stand to sing the hymn.

The tune Westminster Abbey comes from the end of Henry Purcell’s anthem O God Thou Art My God.
The King offers bread and wine which are placed on the altar. Their Majesties move through the Chapel of St Edward to the chairs of estate.

Christ is made the sure foundation,
and the precious corner-stone,
who, the two walls underlying,
bound in each, binds both in one,
holy Sion’s help for ever,
and her confidence alone.

All that dedicated city,
dearly loved by God on high,
in exultant jubilation
pours perpetual melody,
God the One, in threefold glory,
singing everlastingly.

To this temple, where we call thee,
come, O Lord of hosts, today;
with thy wonted loving-kindness,
hear thy people as they pray;
and thy fullest benediction
shed within its walls for ay.

Here vouchsafe to all thy servants
what they supplicate to gain;
here to have and hold for ever,
those good things their prayers obtain,
and hereafter, in thy glory,
with thy blessed ones to reign.

Laud and honour to the Father;
laud and honour to the Son,
laud and honour to the Spirit,
ever Three, and ever One,
consubstantial, co-eternal,
while unending ages run.
Amen.

All remain standing.

The archbishop says:
Bless, O Lord, we beseech thee, these thy gifts,
and sanctify them unto this holy use,
that by them we may be made partakers of the Body and Blood
of thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ,
and fed unto everlasting life of soul and body:
And that thy servant King Charles
may be enabled to the discharge of his weighty office,
whereunto of thy great goodness thou hast called and appointed him.
Grant this, O Lord, for Jesus Christ’s sake,
our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

The Lord be with you.
And with thy Spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up unto the Lord.
Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God.
It is meet and right so to do.

It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee,
O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ thine only Son our Lord.

Who hast at this time consecrated thy servant Charles to be our King, that, by the anointing of thy grace, he may be the Defender of thy Faith and the Protector of thy people; that, with him, we may learn the ways of service, compassion, and love, and that the good work which thou hast begun in him this day may be brought to completion in the day of Jesus Christ.

Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name,
evermore praising thee and saying.

The choir sings Sanctus by Roxanna Panufnik, which was composed for this service.

The archbishop continues:
All glory be to thee, Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who, of thy tender mercy, didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption; who made there, by his one oblation of himself once offered, a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world; and did institute, and in his holy gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that his precious death, until his coming again.

Hear us, O merciful Father, we most humbly beseech thee, and grant that, by the power of thy Holy Spirit, we receiving these thy creatures of bread and wine, according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ’s holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed body and blood;

Who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks to thee, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.

Likewise after supper he took the cup; and when he had given thanks to thee, he gave it to them, saying: drink ye all of this; for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me.

Wherefore, O Lord and heavenly Father, we thy humble servants, having in remembrance the precious death and passion of thy dear Son, his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, entirely desire thy fatherly goodness mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

Most humbly beseeching thee to grant that by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ and through faith in his blood, we and all thy whole Church may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion.

And although we be unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto thee any sacrifice, yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service, not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, and to grant that all we, who are partakers of this holy communion, may be fulfilled with thy grace and heavenly benediction.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end.

Amen.

The archbishop introduces the Lord’s Prayer:
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:

All sit or kneel.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The choir sings Agnus Dei by Tarik O’Regan, during which Their Majesties receive Holy Communion.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, grant us thy peace.

The archbishop says:
Let us pray.

All stand.

The archbishop says the post-communion prayer:
O Almighty Lord,
and everlasting God, vouchsafe,
we beseech thee, to direct,
sanctify and govern both our hearts and bodies,
in the ways of thy laws,
and in the works of thy commandments;
that through thy most mighty protection,
both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The archbishop introduces the blessing:
Our help is in the name of the Lord:
Who hath made heaven and earth.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Now and henceforth, world without end. Amen.

Christ our King, make you faithful and strong to do his will, that you may reign with him in glory; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, rest upon you, and all whom you serve, this day, and all your days.

The choir sings Amen by Orlando Gibbons.

All sing the hymn, Praise, My Soul, by Henry Lyte, during which Their Majesties move to the Chapel of St Edward.

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
to his feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
who like me his praise should sing?
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise the everlasting King.

Praise him for his grace and favour
to our fathers in distress;
praise him still the same for ever,
slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Praise him! Praise him!
glorious in his faithfulness.

Father-like, he tends and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows;
in his hands he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes.
Praise him! Praise him!
widely as his mercy flows.

Angels, help us to adore him;
ye behold him face to face;
sun and moon, bow down before him;
dwellers all in time and space.
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise with us the God of grace.

All sit.

The choir sings the Anthem, composed by William Boyce for the coronation of George III in 1761:
The King shall rejoice in thy strength O Lord.
Exceeding glad shall he be of thy salvation.
Thou shalt prevent him with the blessings of goodness,
and shalt set a crown of pure gold upon his head.

The choir sings Te Deum laudamus, which is sometimes called The Hymn of the Church. It was composed by William Walton for the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953:
We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting.
To thee all angels cry aloud, the heavens and all the powers therein.
To thee cherubin and seraphin continually do cry,
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;
Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory.
The glorious company of the apostles praise thee.
The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise thee.
The noble army of martyrs praise thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee:
the Father of an infinite majesty;
thine honourable, true and only Son;
also the Holy Ghost the Comforter.

Thou art the King of glory, O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man,
thou didst not abhor the Virgin’s womb.
When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death,
thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come to be our judge.
We therefore pray thee, help thy servants,
whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting.

O Lord, save thy people and bless thine heritage.
Govern them and lift them up for ever.
Day by day we magnify thee;
and we worship thy name, ever world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.
O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us, as our trust is in thee.
O Lord, in thee have I trusted; let me never be confounded.

A fanfare sounds.

All stand to sing the national anthem.

God save our gracious King!
Long live our noble King!
God save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the King.

Thy choicest gifts in store
On him be pleased to pour,
Long may he reign.
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the King.

:: PROCESSION OF THE KING AND THE QUEEN

The King is greeted at the Great West Door by Faith Leaders and Representatives, who say:
Your Majesty, as neighbours in faith, we acknowledge the value of public service. We unite with people of all faiths and beliefs in thanksgiving, and in service with you for the common good.

The King is greeted by the governors-general.