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THE CORONATION
Wh en
Queen
Elizabeth
became
Sovereign
Lady
of
this
realm
her
Accession
was
a legal
and
constitutional
act.
But on 2nd
June,
1953
she will be
consecrated
Sovereign;
and this
act of
Conation
is
a
religious
ceremony.
T he
Church's
highest
act of
worship
is in Holy
Communion,
and
the Coronation
of
our
Queen
is set
within
this
awesome
and magnificent
service.
When Her
Majesty
takes
her
place
in Westminster
Abbey
the
Archbishop
presents
her
to the
people
with the
words
"Sirs,
I here
present
unto you Queen
Elizabeth,
your undoubted
Queen:
wherefore
all you who
are
come
this
day
to do your
homage
and
service,
are
you
willing
to do the same?"
The
people
will
say,
"God
save
Queen
Elizabeth".
After
the
Recognition
the
Queen
swears
an
oath
to
preserve
the
Christian
Religion
of her
Country.
The
Accession
is
ratified
by
the
swearing
of this
oath
and by
the
welcome
of
her
people.
The
Archbishop
now
begins
the
service
of
Holy
Communion.
The
Epistle
contains
the
words,
"Love
the
brotherhood.
Fear
God.
Honour
the
Queen",
and the
the
Gospel
says,
"Render
unto Caesar
the
things
that
are
Caesar's
and unto God
the
things
that
are
God's"
After
the
Nicene
Creed
the
Queen
kneels
as the
Choir
softly
sings
"Come
Holy
Ghost,
our
souls
inspire".
The
solemn
act
of
Consecrating
begins.
The
Ampulla,
a flask
in the
shape
of
an
eagle
about
nine
inches
high,
wrought
in
solid
gold,
Contains
blessed
oil.
This
is
handed
to
the
Archbishop
who
prays,
"0
Lord,
Holy
Father,
Who
by
the
anointing
with
oil
didst
of old
make
and consecrate
kings,
priests,
and
prophets,
to
teach
and
govern
Thy
people
Israel:
Bless
Thy
servant
Elizabeth
now to be
anointed
with
this
oil and consecrated
Queen
...
"
Th e
Great
Lord
Chamberlain
now
disrobes
the
Queen
of
her
crimson
cloak.
She
takes
her
seat
in
the
ancient
Chair
of
King
Edward.
Knights
of the
Garter
carrying
a rich
pall
of
cloth
of
gold
suspended
on
poles,
place
it
over
the
Queen
who
is
hidden
from
view.
Th e
Dean
of
Westminster
Abbey
takes
the
Ampulla
from
off
the Altar
and the
Archbishop
receives
-the
sacred
oil
and
anoints
the
Queen
in the
form
of
a
cross,
on
the
palms
of her
hand,
on the
breast,
and
on
the
crown
of her
head.
The
Dean
then
invests
her with
the
priestly
Colobium
Sindonis
and
the Supertunica,
a
long
coat
of
cloth
of
gold. With
the
touching
of
the
Golden
Spurs
by
her
Majesty
we
glimpse
ancient
chivalry
and knighthood.
The
Great
Sword
of State
is
blessed
upon
the
Altar
and
carried
to
the
Queen.
This
symbolises
her
power
of life
and
death
comes
from
God,
and
to
God
is
she
alone
responsible.
A St ole
is
placed
over
her
shoulders
signifying
her
bond with
Christ;
her subjection
to
His
world-wide
sovereignty.
The
Orb,
symbolising
the
authority
of Christ
throughout
the
world
is
then
placed
in
her
hands
before
being
taken
to
the
Altar.
T his
symbolic
ball
of
gold
is
richly
decorated
with
diamonds,
a
sapphire,
and
an
emerald.
The
Archbishop
places
on
the
fourth
finger
of
Her
Majesty's
right
hand
the
Wedding
Ring
of
England.
She
is
united
with
her
peoples
and
they with
her
in the
responsibilities
laid
upon
her.
"Receive
this
Ring,
the
ensign
of
Queenly
dignity,
and
of
defence
of the
Catholic
Faith".
Int o
her
hands
are
placed
the two
Sceptres.
On one
is
the
Cross,
love
fulfilling
itself
in sacrifice;
on the
other
.the
Dove,
the
Holy
Spirit
in
Whose
strength
alone
kings
may
rule.
The
Crown
of.
St.
Edward,
the
official
Crown
of
England
is on
the
Altar.
The
Dean
of Westminster
brings:
this.
Crown
on its
purple
cushion
to the
Archbishop
who
firmly
places
it on the
head
of
the
young
Queen
Elizabeth.
Th e
Abbey
is
a
mass
of movement,
colourful,
thrilling,
as
the
peers
don
their
coronets,
the
barons
their
caps,
and the
kings-of
arms
their
crowns.
Music
fills
the
crowning
place
of kings
and queens.
Inside,
fanfares
are
blown
and
bells
rung.
Outside
guns
signal
the Coronation
of
a
Queen.
A s
silence
reigns
again
the
Archbishop
hands
the
Queen
a
Bible,
"We
present
you
with
this
book,
the
most
valuable
thing
that
this
world
affords".
The
Coronation
proper
is over.
Now
Queen
Elizabeth
removes
her
Crown.
She
offers
Bread
and Wine
for
the
Holy
Communion.
These
the
Archbishop
takes
and the
Service
proceeds.
Kneeling
on
a faldstool
near
the
Altar
we see,
not
only
a Queen,
but
a
Mother
making
her
Communion
with
God
her
Creater,
receiving
the
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