Coronation could bring about big changes
HARD to believe, but the ‘merry, merry, month of May ‘ is almost upon us. A time for bluebells and butterflies, and a time to relax and play. Three long weekends in prospect, a Eurovision Song Contest down the road in Liverpool, and as the month gives way to June, a Manchester Derby with United facing City at Wembley for the first time in 151 years.
No, I am not prepared to predict the result at this point but the Reds will start as underdogs.
I’m ok with that provided they give of their best on the day.
There is also the small matter of a coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey.
Before an assembly largely composed of power and privilege, King Charles will swear an oath to uphold the law of the land, the requirements of justice, and the position of the Church of England in the life of the nation.
Representatives of other world faiths will play a part in the opening procession but the Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by other bishops, will occupy centre stage throughout, including the sacred anointing with oil of a new monarch.
The rituals and pageantry will be watched by millions over the world and, no doubt, there will be much flag waving by enthusiasts afterwards on the streets of London. We hope the sun shines.
The celebration takes place in a strange and conflicted period of our island’s history.
For all the traditions and splendour of this occasion, and the likelihood that it will be meticulously performed, millions will pay little or no attention to the event.
A recent poll indicates that only a third of young people under 30 support the idea of the monarchy, and many of their elders appear unexcited by the prospect of the coronation. Wider still, others will be baffled or indifferent to the religious significance of the occasion.
Christianity is now a minority faith in a multi-cultural society that views the Church with suspicion, and, frankly, has largely lost the ability or understanding to grasp and appreciate the meaning and value of a shared belief in God, and the life and teaching of Christ. Current trends suggest more of the same.
Apart from a temporary respite from work, politics, and the churn and turmoil of the world, the coronation could still present an opportunity for the monarchy and the Church.
King Charles may prove less constrained than the late Queen in matters of public or environmental concern.
His commitment to the welfare of the planet is now well documented along with his genuine love of the arts and music that enrich life.
Over many years he has also demonstrated an abiding and genuine concern for the welfare, work and education of the young through practical projects that have changed lives and improved prospects.
There may now be even greater scope for such bold and imaginative initiatives.
As a ‘servant King’ he may also begin to address the excessive privileges, wealth, and secrecy that underpin the Crown in a society where currently the price of milk and cheese and other basic commodities is for struggling families and individuals much more than a mild inconvenience.
A smaller, humbler, and more transparent monarchy is both desirable and possible.
As for the Church, it too will need to sit more lightly to its rights and position when neither respect nor even attention on the part of the public can be assumed. It will need to curb its infuriating talent for the internal disputes and quarrels that distract from its vocation to serve, and weaken its presence in communities.
A Church with a more accessible face, reflecting more faithfully the Good Shepherd of the New Testament, who sacrificed everything for the lost, the confused, and the loveless. A vision still worth praying for.