This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II that was held in Westminster Abbey on Tuesday, June 2nd, 1953.
Thousands of churches in England are celebrating with services and events using specially composed Prayers and Liturgical Material, and many are taking part in The Big Lunch on Sunday, June 2nd.
Prayers and liturgical resources include texts adapted from the 1953 Coronation service, including the words used when The Queen received the Bible from the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland: "Here is the Wisdom; This is the royal law; These are the lively Oracles of God."
There is a Coronation Anniversary Prayer in both modern and traditional language, written by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey with The Queen’s approval, and commended for use throughout the Church of England by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
The modern language version reads:
Almighty God,
at the hands of priests and prophets
you anoint your chosen servants with the oil of gladness
and strengthen them with the gifts of your Holy Spirit:
accept our joyful praise as with united voice
we give thanks for the long and glorious reign
of our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth.
Renewing your blessings, pour on her your choicest gifts,
and on all your people the spirit of humility and mutual service
shown in the life and death of him who is the anointed King of all,
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Queen and other members of the Royal family will attend a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey on 4 June at 11am.
