Forms of Prayer in Celebration
of the Coronation
of His Majesty King Charles III
Both the apostles Peter and Paul urged their readers to pray for those in authority, and we can do no less by praying for the King of Canada. The PBSC recommends the following ways in which His Majesty’s coronation could be remembered and celebrated on the day itself, on the Sunday afterwards, and on future anniversaries of the accession.
For the day itself, we offer a collection of prayers that can be prayed at significant moments during the ceremony, which have been adapted from those published in a booklet issued by the Church of England in 1953 on the occasion of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. For the Sunday following and for accession anniversaries, we provide propers for services of Holy Communion as well as Morning and Evening Prayer, drawn from the 1918 Canadian Book of Common Prayer.
Prayers and Thanksgivings
For His Majesty the King on the occasion of his Coronation
Let us pray for His Majesty the King, following in order the chief moments of the Coronation Service.
1. The Presentation of the Bible.
O God, who hast set forth in thy Holy Scripture the only Rule by which Christians may live and Princes reign: Grant that our King CHARLES, being devoutly mindful of thy Law and Gospel, may ever find therein revealed true wisdom, the royal Law, and the lively Oracles of God; through Jesus Christ thine only son our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
2. The Anointing of the King.
℣. Send him help from the Sanctuary;
℟. And strengthen him out of thy Holy Place.
O Lord and heavenly Father, the exalter of the humble, the strength of thy chosen, who by anointing with oil didst of old make and consecrate kings, priests, and prophets, to teach and govern thy people Israel: Bless and sanctify, we beseech thee, thy chosen servant CHARLES, at this time to be anointed with oil and consecrated King; strengthen him, O Lord, with the Holy Ghost the Comforter; confirm and stablish him with thy free and princely Spirit, the Spirit of wisdom and government, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and fill him, O Lord, with the Spirit of thy holy fear, now and for ever through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Or
O God the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord, who art anointed with the oil of gladness above thy fellows: By thy holy Anointing pour down upon the head and heart of thy servant CHARLES the blessing of the Holy Ghost, and prosper the work of his hands, that by the assistance of thy heavenly grace he may preserve the people committed to his charge in wealth, peace, and godliness; and after a long and glorious course of ruling a temporal kingdom wisely, justly, and religiously, he may at last be made partaker of an eternal kingdom; where with the Father and the same Holy Ghost, thou livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.
3. The Delivery of the Sword.
Hear our prayers, O Lord, we beseech thee, and so direct and support thy servant King CHARLES, that he may not bear in vain the sword, brought from the altar of God and delivered to him, but may use it as the minister of God, to do justice, stop the growth of iniquity, protect the holy Church of God, 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; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
4. The Delivery of the Orb.
Almighty God, whose beloved Son, to redeem the world, did reign from the cross: Grant that thy servant King CHARLES, receiving the orb set under the cross, may ever be mindful that the whole world is subject to his power and empire, who is the Prince of the kings of the earth, and of whose kingdom there shall be no end. Amen.
5. The Investiture with the Ring.
O Christ, the Head of the Church and Prince of the kings of the earth: Look mercifully upon thy servant CHARLES, now to receive the ring of kingly dignity, the seal of the Catholic Faith; and grant that as he is consecrated Head and Prince of his peoples, so he may continue stedfastly the Defender of thy Religion all his days, so that, being rich in faith and blessed in all good works, he may finally be brought to the glory of thine eternal kingdom; where with the Father and the Holy Ghost thou livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.
6. His Crowning.
O God, the crown of the faithful: Bless, we beseech thee, and sanctify this thy servant CHARLES our King, upon whose head thou dost at this time set the crown for a sign of royal majesty, that he may be filled by thine abundant grace with all princely virtues; through the King eternal, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
7. His Inthronization.
℣. Grant thou his heart’s desire;
℟. And perform all his petitions.
O God, whose greatness may not be uttered, the author of the world, creator of mankind, governor of empires, and establisher of all kingdoms: Bless, we beseech thee, thy servant our Sovereign Lord, King CHARLES, with the richest of blessings of thy grace; establish him in the throne of his kingdom by thy mighty aid and protection; be unto him a strong tower of defence in the time of adversity; let his reign be prosperous and his days many; let peace and love and holiness, truth, and all Christian virtues flourish in his time; let his people obey him with all duty and reverence; and let him so duly obey thee here on earth that he may hereafter reign with thee for ever in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A PRAYER FOR THE KING
O Thou who art the Way, the Truth, and the Life: Look mercifully upon thy servant CHARLES, whom thou hast set to be King over this Realm and Commonwealth; provide him with all he may need for his ministry among us, strengthen him to meet every demand which his high office may make upon him, bless him in his home and family; and grant that, being obedient to thine example, attentive to thy word, and responsive to thy grace, he may enjoy true happiness here on earth and in the world to come the vision of thy glory; who with the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.
THANKSGIVING FOR THE KING’S ACCESSION
Almighty God, who rulest over all the kingdoms of the world, and dost order them according to thy good pleasure: We yield thee unfeigned thanks, for that thou hast been pleased to set thy servant our Sovereign Lord, King CHARLES, upon the throne of this Realm. Let thy wisdom be his guide, and let thine arm strengthen him; let truth and justice, holiness and righteousness, peace and charity, abound in his days. Direct all his counsels and endeavours to thy glory, and the welfare of his subjects; give us grace to obey him cheerfully for conscience’s sake, and let him always possess the hearts of his people; let his reign be long and prosperous, and crown him with everlasting life in the world to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Forms of Prayer for Sunday Services in Celebration of the Accession of the King
(1918 Canadian Book of Common Prayer)
Collect of the Day:
O God, who providest for thy people by thy power, and rulest over them in love: Vouchsafe so to bless thy Servant our King, that under him this nation may be wisely governed, and thy Church may serve thee in all godly quietness; and grant that he being devoted to thee with his whole heart, and persevering in good works unto the end, may, by thy guidance, come to thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Epistle and Gospel for Holy Communion:
- 1 Peter 2.11-17
- Matthew 22.16-22
Psalms and Lessons for Morning and Evening Prayer:
- Psalms 20, 101, 121
- First Lesson: Joshua 1.1-9 or Proverbs 8.1-16
- Second Lesson: Romans 13.1-10 or Revelation 21.22-22.3
Versicles and Responses to be used in place of those following the Creed at Morning and Evening Prayer:
Priest. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us;
People. And grant us thy salvation.
Priest. O Lord, save the King;
People. Who putteth his trust in thee.
Priest. Send him help from thy holy place;
People. And evermore mightily defend him.
Priest. Be unto him, O Lord, a strong tower;
People. From the face of his enemies.
Priest. Endue thy Ministers with righteousness;
People. And make thy chosen people joyful.
Priest. O Lord, save thy people;
People. And bless thine inheritance.
Priest. Give peace in our time, O Lord;
People. Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.
Priest. O Lord, hear our prayer;
People. And let our cry come unto thee.