Prince Charles' Wish For Multi-Faith Coronation Is Rejected By Church

November 15, 2006 10:35 a.m. EST

Maira Oliveira - All Headline News Reporter

London, England (BANG) - Britain's Prince Charles was recently hoping to establish a multi-faith coronation; however, his request was rejected by the Church of England.

The prince - who as Queen Elizabeth's eldest son is first-in-line to the throne - allegedly told courtiers that other than the traditional Christian coronation at Westminster Abbey, he also wanted a separate ceremony including Muslims, Jews and Buddhists to show he represents all religions.

In a reproach to Charles' wishes, the Church of England declared that the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams will have full control of the coronation service.

Leading church official, General Synod Secretary General William Fittall, released a statement on Tuesday saying, "The coronation service is conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, whose duty this has normally been since 1066. He, consequently, takes the lead in preparing the order of service for the approval of the sovereign."

The statement from the church, their first official announcement on how the coronation will be handled, is highly unusual.

Charles had made clear his desire for a second multi-faith coronation to take place in Westminster Hall which those with Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Sikh beliefs could attend. However, Dr. Williams has insisted the prince must overlook his personal interest in other faiths and keep to the "constitutional framework" that makes him Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

The Battenbergs are, of course, usurpers anyway.

For that matter, the incumbent Archbishop of Canterbury is a Druid, of all things.

But the whole project of a "multi-faith" Coronation is downright bizarre. Both Moslems and Orthodox Jews would certainly be highly unwilling to be involved. Ever since the time of the previous Elizabeth, whom one politely and conventionally regards as the daughter of Henry VIII, the coronation has, among other things, the function of "installing" the Sovereign as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, which is a thoroughly practical and understandable reason for Canterbury's concern. It is impossible for Charles to make himself religious head, or religious supreme governor, of every religion in England and the British dominions and dependent territories (not that I can't understand what leads to this fuzzy thinking - the Sovereign is assumed to be, simultaneously, both an Anglican and a Presbyterian).

Seems that Charles also wants to change the title "Defender of the Faith" to "Defender of Faith" - an amusing idea. But Christians (as well as Jews and Moslems) teach faith in God, not "faith in faith".

At the same time, Charles is also interested in Greek Orthodoxy, the religion of most of his father's family, and has been involved with several charities in support of Greek Orthodoxy. But I somehow can't imagine the Orthodox hierarchy in England participating in a "multi-faith" Coronation.

Father Serge

I know of a heiromonk who's met him on Athos, and showed me pictures!

Prince Charles: at the rate things are going, the king who will never be.

Noo, Scotland has nae got a King
and she has nae got a Queen,
for ye canna hae the second Liz
when the first yins never been!

Nae Liz the Twa
Nae Lilibet the Wan
Nae Lil will ever dae,
For we'll bring home our Stuart King
in a Scottish breakaway!

Noo, her mon's the Duke o' Edinburgh,
He's one o' yon kilty Greeks!
Ah, but dinna fash me kilties, lads,
for it's Lizzie wears the breeks!

Nae Liz the Twa
Nae Lilibet the Wan
Nae Lil will ever dae,
For we'll bring home our Stuart King
in a Scottish breakaway!


Fr. Serge