All Saints East St Kilda parishioner rehearse for the coronation service. Picture: supplied.
Rene Knaap
29 April 2023
Preparations are well underway for the parish of All Saints East St Kilda to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.
A Service of Thanksgiving to mark the coronation will take the form of Solemn Evensong and will feature music from past coronations.
The lineup will include the well-known ‘Zadok the Priest’ by Georg Friedrich Handel, sung at every coronation since its composition in 1727, and Herbert Parry’s ‘I was Glad’, written for Edward VII in 1902, and again, sung at every coronation since.
All Saints parish supports a fine musical tradition which on this occasion will be enhanced by additional musicians and singers.
Read more: The piano stool bringing coronation history to St Paul’s East Kew
It decided to host the event due to the request of parishioners and others in the wider community. This follows a very successful and well-attended service in February 2022 for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.
Many contemporary Australians maintain a profound and deep respect for the royal family in general and King Charles in particular. There is an abiding appreciation for the stability and model of government provided by a Constitutional Monarchy.
A coronation is not just a grand occasion or show of pomp and ceremony. It is an important religious and spiritual occasion.
Read more: Pimms and bubbly to overflow at celebration fundraiser
The coronation marks the solemn contract the monarch makes with his people. This means the most important part of the service is not the crowning but the anointing, which of course has very deep and significant Christian origins.
Christians everywhere should recognise the unique opportunity the coronation provides by the public display of Christian faith and service.
It remains that King Charles is king of Australia and due respect should be shown to this fact. And we heed St Paul’s words that we are bound to pray, “for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.”
All Saints’ service will be held at 5:00 pm on Sunday 7 May. It will be followed by a festive reception at St Michael’s Grammar School.
There has been a very positive response so far to the service, and all are welcome to attend.
Enquiries can be made by contacting admin @allsaints.org.au or through the parish website allsaints@allsaints.org.au
Father Rene Knaap is vicar at All Saints St Kilda East.
For more faith news, follow The Melbourne Anglican on Facebook, Twitter, or subscribe to our weekly emails.
