laudable Practice

As we continue today in this realm to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty the King, I trust readers of laudable Practice will forgive a slightly shorter but no less joyous post, an extract from the sermon by George Morley, Bishop of Worcester, at the coronation of Charles II. The words give expression to the deeply participatory theological vision which underpins an Anglican understanding of the gift of the polity, what John Hughes described as "a particular sensibility and piety which could be seen as characteristically Anglican: a sense of all creation being in God and God being in all creation, through Christ".  And therefore with Angels and Archangels, and all the Host of Heaven, let us Laud and Magnifie the glorious Name of God, and joyn with the Heavenly Quire in that Heavenly Anthem, which was first sung at the Birth of our Saviour, and may most seasonably be sung over again at the Inauguration of our King, Glory be to God in the highest, on Earth Peace, Good wi...

The first Charles promoted the Laudian vision.  The second Charles restored a Laudian vision.  And the third Charles? The Coronation liturgy of the third Charles is demonstrating the continued resonance of a Laudian vision. Let us reflect on five ways in which the Coronation liturgy is deeply Laudian. Firstly, the Eucharistic rite in the Coronation liturgy is fundamentally rooted in the Prayer Book tradition.  Yes, it is not 1662 - but is much closer to 1662 than the Eucharistic rite in the vast majority of Church of England parishes. The words of 1662 will be heard in the preface, Sanctus, Prayer of Consecration, Prayer of Oblation, the words of administration, and in the post-communion prayer. Mindful of current liturgical practice in the Church of England, this is an outcome worthy of recognition and support. It reflects the King's well-known commitment to the Book of Common Prayer. As Prince of Wales, he was patron of the Prayer Book Society.  He presented prize...

With the festivities of the Platinum Jubilee now past, it might be an appropriate time for Anglicans in this realm and the dominions to reflect on what we might learn from the celebrations. For Anglicans elsewhere, ministering in the context of different constitutional arrangements, there might also be some value to this: not, obviously, as a commendation of monarchy but, rather, in terms of considering how contemporary Anglicanism might renew its historic understanding of constitutional order as gift to be received with solemn thanksgiving.   Three aspects of Anglican celebration of the Platinum Jubilee are particularly worth reflecting upon, not least in how they are suggestive of a wider vision of theological renewal for Anglicanism. Firstly, the anthem written by composer Judith Weir for the National Service of Thanksgiving to Celebrate her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee - 'By Wisdom' - should receive theological attention.  Weir has said of her composition: Amongst many...

It was, of course, entirely predictable: some Anglican clerics on Twitter sniffily declaring that Sunday is Whitsun and that this must take precedence over the celebration of Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee.  Now while we might be forgiven for thinking that such clerics would not have been celebrating the Jubilee irrespective of its date, let us assume that their point is sincere.  Whitsun, after all, is one of the three great festivals.  For some centuries, Anglican custom was that Holy Communion should be received at Christmas, Easter Day, and Whitsunday. And despite the rather odd provision in contemporary liturgical calendars which fails to recognise the feast by observing the festive nature of the days following, it is meet and right that this high festival is duly celebrated. None of this, however, requires that the Platinum Jubilee cannot also be celebrated in the Church's liturgy.  An Anglicanism which cannot weave together Whitsun and the Jubilee is an Anglic...

As in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth we celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen, words from an 1809 sermon by Edward Nares - a representative of the Orthodox party (i.e. the Old High mainstream of the pre-1833 Church of England) - to mark the Golden Jubilee of George III. Noting how the British Crown was limited by law and constitution, Nares rejoiced in the religious example and influence of George III.  This is an aspect of the reign of the Elizabeth II that should be given much more serious consideration by Anglicans: But I have reserved for the last, that trait of his character, which must still give the greatest lustre to his names and will forever shine as the brightest jewel of his crown, I mean, his constant and exemplary discharge of RELIGIOUS duties. I say exemplary, because in this consists the great worth of his character. I must maintain that a King of this country is so limited and restrained by the laws of the Empire, and so impeded ...