Firstly, I keep repeating the five essential elements enacted in Westminster Abbey and its predecessors: Recognition, Oath, Anointing, Investiture, Enthronement. Those are the enduring ingredients, even in times of the most drastic change, none of which was greater than the post-Reformation settlement that saw the whole occasion translated into the vernacular and fitted out for the Protestant Church.
Secondly, we have seen massive adjustments already. The early Stuart events were exemplars, but post-Restoration saw a rapid decline into hollow pageant that eventually became empty ritual in a blaze of colour. Queen Victoria put a stop to the rot but her Coronation was a performance disaster. Then there was a rapid reverse into reverence that was accompanied by using the occasion as a vehicle for Imperial splendour on unprecedented scale. Therein perhaps lies the seed for the next one to be a celebration of the unity in diversity of the whole Commonwealth, both the Realms and the other nations.
The secret to success could be argued as marrying history and precedent with organic development and invented tradition. It is a recipe that has always worked.
You asked about things 'odd' in 1953.
One is certainly the Homage. In an age of television, planes and atom bombs, the idea of the hereditary peerage paying homage was beyond anachronistic. Suggestions were made during preparations but nothing was done that time; undoubtedly something will be done next time. Importantly, the Homage doesn't form part of the basic Rites but has generally been tacked on to the Enthronement because it has to be done at some point and somewhere. Who does it and where it is done will be a subject of discussion next time round. There is a good argument for pressing Westminster Hall back into service, which could also be the setting for inter-Faith elements, which will need to feature as representative of the wider Commonwealth and society, which brings me to the second point.
The presentation of the Bible has caused problems that never seem to have reconciled themselves. In 1937, it was presented to George VI immediately after he was crowned, which served no purpose at that moment, and caused a choreographic disaster as he was holding two sceptres and wearing a glove. In 1953, it was presented to The Queen after the Oath and immediately before the beginning of the Communion Service. That made no sense as Her Majesty had just used it to swear the Oath. It was also presented by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the first time a non-English Church representative had taken part. This was good progress because it was a precursor of the dawn of ecumenism and because the Sovereign is a Presbyterian in Scotland. It would perhaps make more sense for the Bible to be presented next time after the Recognition and before it is used to swear the Oath.
A third and final things that comes to mind is the deployment of the Te Deum. In 1953, this was sung as The Queen left the Sacrarium for St Edward's Chapel, thus reducing it to a piece of incidental movement that covered some choreography. The Te Deum is the Church's oldest and greatest Hymn of Thanksgiving. It is to be hoped that it is sung next time immediately before the withdrawal to St Edward's Chapel, with the Sovereign standing in front of the High Altar.
1
Message Thread
« Back to index
Responses are not allowed!
Create your own free message board!