The Anointing at the British Coronation

[@annettewillis2797]

Very clear and thorough explanation of why Kings and Queens are anointed in Great Britain. This is very helpful in advance of the coronation of King Charles III. Thanks so much Allan.

[@9er..]

Anyone who claims to be an Anglophile needs to see this!!! The content is unparalleled👊👊

[@monicacall7532]

Absolutely agreed. I posted all of Allan’s coronation videos on my social media for those who want to understand the symbolism and the various parts of the ceremony.

[@oldsol2012]

Agree. I grew up in the Presbyterian Church. Later in life I converted to Greek Orthodox. The spiritual thread runs through the royal family back to Jerusalem. Thank you King Charles for incorporating Orthodoxy this in the Coronation.

[@gregoryvozar6236]

Your videos in advance of the Coronation have been wonderfully devised! Each successive episode has raised my anticipation another notch. Thank you for you detailed and well-organised work.

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure, thank you for your kind comment.

[@dragonclaws9367]

Me too ; and I'm over in the US. I'm a big fan and want to go back to my cousins... don't tell on me! ❤ I'm so excited for history before my eyes! I love this channel.

[@wendyfield7708]

Thank you Dr.Ashenden. I too am a convert from Anglicanism, 75 years ago, so pre Vatican II. OBEDIENCE to the Magisterium is extremely important to keep unity within the Catholic Church, or we risk having yet more splits! I agree with your comments here.

[@jilltagmorris]

Thank you yet again. Yes, these before King Charles coronation is WONDERFUL.

[@keithdavies6316]

Thank you Allan Barton in explaining the anointing of the sovereign. It is very interesting to follow. I remember when I was anointed with Holy Oil @ my confirmation

[@allanbarton]

Me too when I was chrismated, anointed on my hands, shoulders, feet, forehead, nose, eyes and ears.

[@EllenCFarmGirl]

Thanks!

[@EllenCFarmGirl]

Thank you Dr. Barton! Excellent special! I’m very excited for my Coronation edition of The Antiquary!

[@allanbarton]

Thanks Ellen, it should be fun, I've got a lot of old photos of the coronation and it's been enjoyable making a selection.

[@ThreeLs2011]

Christ is Risen! Greetings from the US. Stumbled upon your channel a few months ago. Have enjoyed your videos...especially your recent ones on the upcoming coronation. Thank you for sharing. Have a good day.

[@TheNaniNetwork]

This is all so magnificent ! And so well explained, too. Thank you!

[@reneknaap1745]

At last! A detailed and competent commentary on the sacramental and theological significance of the coronation, and as detailed here, consecration.

[@allanbarton]

Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed it!

[@ryanhunter2987]

Absolutely splendid!

[@annlindsaywright3169]

As always an aural and visual feast. Thank you Allan.

[@The_Robert.Fletcher]

Thank you for a great explanation of all.

[@Kay-jc3ub]

Thank you for this information.

[@CharlotteinWeimar]

Dear Allan, your videos are superb, full of obscure detail and beautifully narrated. I have a tiny gem of information about the clothes King George VI was wearing during the Anointing. The extended black and white movie shows him walking under the canopy and sitting wearing his elegant Georgian style pink silk coat, which meant he was too well covered to be fully Anointed. But as the canopy is carried away, for a split second he is shown sitting in the Chair only in his shirtsleeves. So it would appear he removed his coat whilst concealed by the canopy. At the end of the Anointing he is then sufficiently lightly and comfortably clad to receive the Colobium Sindonis, Supertunica, Stole and Robe Royal.etc. It was far more taxing for the late Queen, who had to continue wearing her heavily corseted, jewel encrusted dress under all those additional robes. As she called wearing the dress alone was "like an oven" it is remarkable she did not faint.

[@oldhippy1947]

As an American, I'm intrigued with this whole process. Thank you for your clear explanation.

[@allanbarton]

You're welcome, glad you found it helpful!

[@dennispearson871]

This Video ( Like All of Your Others I Might Say , ) Is Magnificent !!...Your Scholarly Research into the antiquity and History of These Sacred Traditions which have come down to us after a Millennium is to be Highly Commended!As the Excitement And Anticipation of The Great Coronation begins to mount , your marvelous vedeos are taking the Atmosphere to a Fever Pitch !! By the time Charles mounts St.Edwards Throne , And Is Gloriously Crowned , your vedeos will have made us more than worthy to Hail GOD SAVE THE KING !!!.....

[@carmenfoster6912]

Dr.Barton you have provided yet another exemplary history of this very important occasion! You illuminate all the different facets of this incredible experience! Thank you so much for all the time and care you take to explain all the details!

[@theendofeverything6356]

Thank you for this carefully researched and presented work. Much appreciated.

[@gonefishing167]

Thank you so much. It’s so interesting. 🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

[@EdMcF1]

I heard about the Orthodox consecration of the oil and thought 'Why has no one mentioned this tradition before?', now I know it is an innovation, but a great tribute to the late Duke of Edinburgh.

[@nickimontie]

I plan to rewatch all of your Coronation videos just before the event.

[@politikking3340]

So glad I found this channel. God bless you all, and may our traditions endure.

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

I've been enjoying your Coronation series immensely. I hope you've enjoyed preparing them!

[@allanbarton]

I've always been fascinated by royal history, so this opportunity was too good to miss! Glad you're enjoying the series!

[@charlesmaximus9161]

As both an Orthodox Christian and an Anglophile, I especially appreciate this highly informative series. The Orthodox baptismal rite, which includes chrismation, is very similar to the rubrics of the anointing of the sovereign.

[@Orthodoge]

As Orthodox I’m sure this isn’t sacramentally blessed oil

[@ryanhunter2987]

​@@Orthodoge it was consecrated by HH Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem...

[@nadiabrook7871]

Another BRILLIANT video, Allan!! 💗❤👍🤴👸

[@ChrisDonnelly-w7l]

Another wonderful video.

[@allanbarton]

Thank you very much!

[@Chloe_Stella]

Absolutely enjoyed every minute. Thank you! 😊

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@vinceplatini]

Another great explanation, thank you Dr. Barton, can't wait for the second part. I'd be a must if you could comment the Coronation live on the 6th of May.

[@allanbarton]

I wish I could, I don't know I might achieve it sadly.

[@atrinka1]

Thank you!

[@beverleywarren5313]

Thank you for these videos, it is going to make the Coronation service so much more interesting to watch. ❤️🇳🇿

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure, glad you're enjoying them!

[@williamevans9426]

Thank you so much for going into so much detail on the topic of the Coronation while keeping your episodes easy for laypeople like me to understand and enjoy. I look forward to the next installment!

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure, I'm glad you're enjoying the series!

[@caro-uk]

Hi Allan, another very informagive & enjoyable video - thank you. I have just subscribed to your monthly magazine 🙂

[@jenniferbrannon]

I subscribed to the magazine about a month ago and am looking forward to receiving it, and especially excited about the coronation issue!!

[@lilbatz]

So stoked! Ordered the special edition, and the waiting will hard. 💕

[@stepps511]

Thank you, Allan. I am most grateful for your theological explanation of the anointing and its precedence in scripture and history. Your knowledge of these rituals and ceremonies is so helpful, and so very much appreciated. Already looking forward to Pt. 2!

[@trussell9899]

Love it!!! Can't wait for part two!! ❤

[@emmanuelsalvadorenriquez4893]

Very informative

[@gaspakseppie]

It would be loverly if the content of all of these video's about the Coronation is also published in the special edition of the Antiquary Magazine

[@StevenJeNova]

Learnt a great deal here. Much appreciated!

[@allanbarton]

Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed it!

[@AulicExclusiva]

UNCTION being one of the 7 Sacraments, it conveys an Invisible Grace through a visible means.

[@CONDACOCLIPS]

It is not a meare sign; it is dynamic action that truly gives Christ's Grace!!!

[@educanassa100]

Great vídeo, Allan

[@allanbarton]

Thanks very much!

[@271250cl]

Delivered with your usual clarity, Allan! (A recent article in the [London] Times about the rite of Anointing referred to the 'anointment' of the king. Hope this word doesn't catch on!)

[@allanbarton]

Oh dear.

[@Shalott63]

Thank you for this interesting video. You mentioned the debate in the medieval West about how, if at all, the monarch was changed by being anointed king. I wondered whether the Orthodox in the East had a simlar debate about what happened to emperors and tsars at their coronations (did they get anointed?). Since the anointing oil this time is coming from the East I thought this might be of more than just academic relevance, but perhaps you will say something about it in the next instalment.

[@ludovica8221]

Coronation issue of The Antiquary duly ordered.. I have a feeling you will get a lot of orders!

[@SantiagoDPease]

Greetings, Dr. Barton! Actually, in Catholic Liturgy, the hymn "Veni Creator" is solely sung at an episcopal ordination, prior to the reading of the Mandate of the Holy See signed by the Pope. In every case (diaconal, priest and episcopal ordination) the elected ones do postrate and the Litany of the Saints are sung, but not the Veni Creator. Anyways, outstanding contribution to our culture. I do expect keenly the coronation of His Majesty.

[@matthewsmith2078]

It was done before Coronations as well, though there are no more Catholic Coronation masses celebrated today

[@westburybaldwin]

Excellent video but I can't hear the word anoint without hearing this Pointy birds Pointy Pointy Anoint my head Anoint Nointy

[@allanbarton]

I love it.

[@CONDACOCLIPS]

The sovreign's anointing with Holy Oil calls down God's blessings but also, powerfully confers and imbues the Grace of the Holy Spirit. Do not forget this real imbuing of this Grace of the Holy Spirit.

[@loveall101]

Your videos are great. You've got to listen to the Ancient Tradition podcast on the coronation. The anointing goes clear back to Egypt. Crazy. I recommend! The Reformers needed to do more homework...had they, I'm pretty sure they would never have thrown out the anointing...it's evidence of how far the Reformers and their ideas have moved away from the original doctrines. The podcast also explains the true reason why the anointing is not televised.

[@miriamkling3346]

Please God bless and protect King Charles lll.

[@jeffersonkee6440]

I am absolutely *not* an expert on anointing spoons but that one used to anoint the sovereign looks Anglo-Saxon. I would guess 700-850 CE, around King Alfred's time.

[@allanbarton]

The next video will include a segment on it.

[@RighteousReverendDynamite]

The Spoon I think was said to be the oldest part of the Coronation regalia hardware that survived Cromwell.

[@jeffersonkee6440]

@@RighteousReverendDynamite I think it's because of the engraving inside the spoon bowl that dates it. It does resemble, in its shape, Anglo-Saxon spoons.

[@thatoneguy8064]

where was the photo at 7:00 taken?

[@allanbarton]

Buckfast Abbey, I thought the pavement was a good match for the cosmati pavement of Westminster Abbey.

[@thatoneguy8064]

@@allanbarton beautiful! mahalo.

[@gerardacronin334]

What type of oil is it? Olive oil, EVOO, vegetable oil, avocado oil, or other? Does it matter which type of oil is used?

[@allanbarton]

That's the subject of the next video, which will be available on Friday. A complex matter that one!

[@pixbychris3182]

Another excellent video. Just a question as am quite thick at times. The coronation edition is an extra and not the May issue. If so will get extra cash to you as I can't miss it.

[@allanbarton]

It is an added extra, there will still be a May edition too.

[@pixbychris3182]

@@allanbarton thank you good sir. Will send an extra sum. 👍

[@norlington2]

William IV was only annointed on head and hands, because he insisted on wearing his naval uniform. Victoria followed suit, perhaps because of modesty. So anything could happen in May. We'll have to wait and see.

[@allanbarton]

I do hope this admiral's uniform idea is just a silly press rumour Alan.

[@bevinboulder5039]

Getting really close now! I'm very interested to see if he will wear naval uniform as has been reported. It seems remarkably impractical for the anointing.

[@bevinboulder5039]

@Bluebell Flora That too!

[@TuckerSP2011]

I am sad that they won't show the anointing. To me, that is the most important part, the most solemn. I think King Charles already feels the weight and import of his office as King. I think he will be a fine King.

[@ozzietadziu]

Yes, indeed, the mother of Prince Philip had become an Orthodox nun. Previous to that, she had been adjudged clinically insane for a good number of years. Her mother had placed her in "gentile incarceration" for some time.

[@corrietapp3178]

It may have been, as you say, "gentile incarceration" but the proprietor of the asylum to which Princess Andrew was admitted, Prof Dr Ludwig Binswanger, was Jewish.

[@devinconyers6430]

The first time the oil has been consecrated by a valid apostolic successor since England’s break from the Church; I hope it will have an effect.

[@Xanaseb]

Wait, if the anointing won't be filmed, does that mean we won't hear Handel's awesome composition of the Anthem, Zadok the Priest broadcast!?!? Perhaps they will just do audio?

[@allanbarton]

We should do, that is sung while the sovereign is taking off their state robes and is being seated in the chair. We should see all of that, just not the moment of anointing.

[@Xanaseb]

@@allanbarton ok good good, almost went into despair there ;). Have been looking forward to that being performed at the Coronation for most of my life!!

[@johnandrez]

I believe the Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem, Hosaam Naoum, was also there during the consecration of the oil, and he also offered up prayers of blessing. In your next video, can you comment on what kind of oil is it? Is it the Anglican equivalent of the Oil of Exorcism, or is it Chrism? There was some talk among some Orthodox friends of mine that the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem shouldn't have or couldn't have given Chrism to Anglicans to use liturgically, so the oil must have received another kind of consecration/blessing completely, rather than that used for Chrism.

[@allanbarton]

It is really odd - the oil does not have all the ingredients that Orthodox chrism has by any means. It follows in broad strokes the 17th century recipe used in England, which was created by an apothecary. However, the photos I've seen seem to suggest that it has been blessed at least in part as the Holy Chrism is blessed. The Oil of Exorcism in the Orthodox church is blessed by a priest on the Wednesday of great and holy week and the ritual performed on the coronation oil does seem to go one further than that. It will probably remain somewhat of a mystery.

[@johnandrez]

@@allanbarton Thanks for your quick response.

[@GreggyTucker]

@@allanbarton I was about to post a comment along these lines. The photos I have seen from Jerusalem suggest to me that the rite followed was that of the consecration of oil for the sick (ἀκολουθία του εὐχελαίου). This is strongly implied by the seven wicks that were floated on it; at one point I saw a photo that included the cover of the book being used (now I cannot find this), which I think confirmed my hunch. It seems to me that the rite used is more important than the ingredients, since the only necessary and unchanged ingredient of any of the oils is...oil. It is all exceedingly odd, liturgically, ecclesiologicaly, and theologically, at least within an Orthodox perspective.

[@georgecalvintharcisius586]

Hello there, greetings, it was absolutely Devine. Thank you veryyyyyy much for making us all understand. Today I have learned plenty.. Thank you,🙏❤️‍🔥🇬🇧🤴✡️✝️🕎🇬🇧🇬🇧🙌🙏❤️‍🔥

[@hansspiegl8684]

BTW the using of oil goes back to old testament times. Especially for kings (David) and priests at the temple of Jerusalem.

[@allanbarton]

Please watch the next video I discuss that in more length, this is part one of two.

[@hansspiegl8684]

@@allanbarton Thank you for your (quick) replay 🙂

[@allanbarton]

@@hansspiegl8684 apologies I sounded curt in that last message - I got distracted and pressed send. Updated response.

[@hansspiegl8684]

@@allanbarton No problem at all! Your videos are excellent, written with great expertise and dedication to the subject! I just felt compelled to leave a comment as the topic of anointing is treated completely differently in the Old and New Testaments. Please keep up the great work with your videos - I have learned how closely the English monarchy is still connected to divine mandate and election, which was completely unknown to me as an Austrian.

[@RighteousReverendDynamite]

Of course, Psalm 23 "The Lord is My Shepherd" describes the use of anointing. This was composed by King David. Line 5: "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; you anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over."

[@williamevans9426]

I have heard that the annointing of King Charles III will not take place beneath a canopy as is conventional but that cameras will still not be permitted to film the rite. Do you know whether there is any truth in this? If this is, indeed, so I think it would be a shame and a major change to the central religious theme of the Coronation.

[@allanbarton]

My understanding is that it will and that a new canopy is being made by the Royal School of Needlework. However, like so many of these matters they are being extremely tight lipped about it.

[@williamevans9426]

@@allanbarton Thank you so much for clarifying this key point so very quickly!

[@kerryrwalton7791]

Very informative. Why would Camilla be anointed when although legally but not in the Church of England?

[@knightwatchman]

She does not nor did she get anointed. She just gets crowned.

[@kerryrwalton7791]

Thank you for your reply I have enjoyed your videos. Upon watching the coronation I thought I saw the ampulla being held near Camilla although not shown on camera I had the impression that she was indeed anointed.

[@knightwatchman]

@@kerryrwalton7791 I am so sorry. I have to stand (actually sit) corrected. I looked this up and she was indeed anointed. It wasn't hidden by any screens, but she was surrounded by bishops. The BBC did not televise it. I went back and reviewed my recording, and they did capture the very end of her anointment on camera when the Archbishop of Canterberry wiped his hands. Again ... so sorry.

[@kerryrwalton7791]

@@knightwatchman Thank you for the update! I hope you continue these informative videos on another topic. I still find the Camilla, Charles and Church of England relationship problematic but there you go it's accepted now, past judgement and left to history to explain and contextualize.

[@knightwatchman]

@@kerryrwalton7791 Hi Kerry. Allan Bard does these videos. I was just answering your question as a comment reply. Funny you bring up Charles, Camilla and the Church of England relationship. My wife and I were talking about that during the coronation. Since the monarch is the head of the church, I guess they can do anything they want.

[@knightwatchman]

At The Coronation of Edward VII (1902) his anointment with holy oil was captured on film.

[@allanbarton]

Really? Is that in an archive somewhere, I would be fascinated to see it.

[@knightwatchman]

@@allanbarton Look for "Georges Méliès: The Coronation of Edward VII (1902)"

[@allanbarton]

@@knightwatchman ah, sadly that wasn't the real thing but a simulation filmed with actors on a set.

[@knightwatchman]

@@allanbarton Oh my. So sorry. I did not read the description.

[@allanbarton]

@@knightwatchman it is a wonderful bit of early film though.

[@populuxe1]

The other interesting thing is that Charles is eschewing civet and ambergris in the oil

[@allanbarton]

I think the patriarch is eschewing those - they couldn't form part of an anointing oil an Orthodox patriarch could bless.

[@justjacqueline2004]

Are Scottish Prysbetyrians okay with all this ?

[@allanbarton]

That's why there isn't a coronation in Scotland any longer.

[@justjacqueline2004]

@@allanbarton So not happy then?

[@allanbarton]

@@justjacqueline2004 I don't think they have very much time for this sort of thing.

[@willx9352]

It is a rite of the Church of England not of the Church of Scotland, as is the whole coronation rite.

[@willx9352]

Of course, I could have added that Charles is also King of Australia (and Canada, NZ, Papua New Guinea etc) but he is not King of Scotland (or England), but of the United Kingdom.

[@deaddiva3076]

I particularly think that the Anointing of the British Monarchs is more like the sacrament of Ordinance than Confirmation, since the British Sovereign is also Supreme Head of the Church of England. He/she IS a priest(ess), in fact, a HIGH-priest(ess). The Pope/Papess of Anglican Communion. I think the only reason you still have a Coronation is due to that symbolism, don't you think so?

[@Orthodoge]

As an Orthodox Christian I can tell you that the patriarch did a basic blessing on the oil that can be used on anyone, whether baptized Orthodox or not. He definitely didn’t perform the blessing to produce Chrism

[@allanbarton]

As an Orthodox deacon myself I'm not entirely certain. It seems to have elements of the unction service performed on Holy Wednesday but with elements of the blessing of chrism added in too. A curious and unique hybrid I think, but without seeing the text and only seeing the photos it is difficult to know. It is certainly not the complete blessing of chrism, but the intention might well have been to produce something chrism like. Personally I am utterly baffled that the patriarch would do this, unless there is something about Charles' ecclesial status we don't know.

[@St.MartinofToursPrayToGodForUs]

It's really cool to hear some of this history from someone in the Orthodox faith!

[@richardc8795]

I don’t see how King Charles can be anointed on the breast if he’s wearing a naval uniform. Although, I remember reading that Queen Victoria was also not anointed on the breast, for reasons which I do not know. 🤷

[@TyroneBeiron]

Ultimately in the Anglican rite of the CoE, these acts of anointing are purely symbolic and traditional. Removed from it is all the ancient belief on what an authoritative and sacramental anointing is. As you correctly said, it is highly ‘symbolic’. This is unfortunate for Orthodox and Catholic Christians, who do not regard these acts as ‘purely symbolic’, because biblically, we know that the spirit of the Lord may be truly vested upon the one anointed.

[@allanbarton]

You are preaching to the choir - I am Orthodox. For some reason in this day and age people use the word symbol to refer to something that is not quite the real deal - that is a modern mindset, completely alien to the people who invented this ritual. Whether those who currently perform it believe it has an effect is debatable, but to determine that Tyrone, we have to do the unthinkable and look into other men's souls!

[@iVisual.sambonkowski]

All based on Jewish and Hebrew Scriptures. The template and basis is the ceremony conducted by Jewish priests (Cohen) on the kings of Israel.

[@edwardfranks5215]

Prince Phillip was Greek Orthodox until he married in 1947.

[@princerupert6161]

Church bells also were also consecrated in the past with holy oil. I hope the king gets his hair cut. He tends to look rather scruffy nowadays in his moth ball navel uniform and battered cap. The world will be watching.

[@deniseatkins9407]

Catching up so that's how you pronounce that bishops name everyone calls him grotesque

[@allanbarton]

It was his nickname really, it means big-head as apparently he had a large head.

[@deniseatkins9407]

Wow that's easier to say the college of bishop big head (gross head)

[@lauraanderson7358]

c of e has women bishops. that's a new twist.

[@lauraanderson7358]

things change. now a king can be divorced and the queen as well. adultery is in vogue these days. true to King Henry viii.

[@lauraanderson7358]

things certainly do change. better ? worse ? hard to tell. i'm not optimistic. Tradition implies the root. it's missing. 🤨

[@dariusclovis1374]

The simple reason why the Coronation Oil was consecrated by the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem is due to the fact that Anglican Orders are null & void (Aposolicae Curae 1898, Pope Leo XIII) & therefore, had to resort to the Orthodox for a valid but illicit consecration. An act (Consecration) which is totally schematic & heretical.

[@dariusclovis1374]

Correction: Apostolicae Curae, 1896

[@dariusclovis1374]

@Bluebell Flora The Sacramental coronation of an English monarch is essentially an expression of the Holy Catholic Faith, the fact that England has lost The Faith, not withstanding. The heart of the ceremony is not so much the placing of the crown upon the head as the anointing with holy oils. Monarchy & Hierarchy here on earth are a foretaste of heaven. Unfortunately. the proposed new ceremony will eviscerate the one thousand years ceremony of its Catholic elements in favor of ecumenism & secularism to accommodate modernism & liberalism which does not bode well for the Monarch nor that of England. In regard to your comment regarding the pronouncement of Leo XIII on the validity of Anglican Orders as irrelevant is not shared by COE clergy. Why then do they run off to the Orthodox to secure valid, but illicit orders?

[@mfaizsyahmi]

They put the anointing behind a paywall. Onlygods members can access the content. /j

[@dianaroach3093]

King Charles lll is supposed to be the head of the church. On May 6, 2023 , Charles needs the people to know what Jesus Christ message of God's love and forgiveness . We should never ignore the worldwide scope of Christ's gospel. God wants all the world to hear the good news of salvation. LUKE 24:47. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lord's. Charles needs to stand for God or he won't be King for long.

[@ShriyaDamayanthi]

🇬🇧👑️✝️👀🖕❤️

[@Oldsmobile69]

It'd be funny if instead of cross drawn on the king's forehead they'd dump a whole horn's worth on his head 😄

[@caro-uk]

Would it - no🙄🇬🇧

[@Oldsmobile69]

@@caro-uk Hey, just upholding tradition here!

[@knightwatchman]

It seems so hypocritical to be anointed in a holy ceremony and then rule secularly almost to the degree of atheism.

[@DianeCooperTW]

Don't know why would the orthodox involve themselves in a heretical ceremony a very weird and disappointing action by Theophilus

[@allanbarton]

I am a little non-plussed by it myself.

[@norlington2]

Theophilos and Justin Welby have been working together on an agreement between churches about the religious sites in Jerusalem. Theophilos visited Lambeth Palace last February shortly after Charles met him in Jerusalem. They all seem to get along famously, which can't be a bad thing.

[@norlington2]

@Bluebell Flora I think mainstream Christian leaders are taking a more generous view of other churches; what used to be "heresy" is now a "different tradition". In 1953 it would have been unthinkable for a pope to donate a relic to the coronation and unthinkable for Anglicans to accept it. Times have changed.

[@annettewillis2797]

Thanks!