The coronation of King Charles III. was celebrated at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney
“If we don’t want benefit cuts, we have to pay our taxes. I’m not talking about specific political attitudes here, but Christians should set an example that they are willing to pay the taxes set for services.”
The procession of choristers after the cathedral service.Credit: Stefan Siewert
Alluding to the debate over whether Australia should become a republic, Grant said the story of the Pharisees also shows that Jesus was willing to submit to a “foreign ruler” in the form of a Roman emperor.
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The coronation of King Charles III marked his formal installation as head of the Anglican Church. Grant said the ritual, in which the king knelt to be anointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, meant he was accepting limits to his own power.
After his coronation, the King met briefly with leaders of other religions at Westminister Abbey. Grant said it was “quite right” that the King, as a defender of the Christian faith, was also the defender of other faiths and Christians should not expect him to express his faith in the same way as the late Queen.
Rhydian Harris and his wife Hannah, from Lane Cove, brought their two children, Hugo, aged four and a half, and Arabella, aged 16 months, to the service. They planned to see the wax figures of the King and other royalty at the Queen Victoria Building afterwards.
Scones with jam and cream served after the cathedral service.Credit: Stefan Siewert
“We bring the children to important occasions like the Queen’s memorial service,” Harris said. “[Arabella] I won’t remember, but hopefully [Hugo] Will. We enjoy the music – we were both choir boys when we were young.”
Harris said he was disappointed that Australia did not do more to celebrate the coronation and had allowed it to be overshadowed by the republic debate.
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Isabel, 71, who did not give her last name, said she comes to the cathedral almost every week. She enjoyed the service and also watched the coronation on Saturday night.
“This will probably be the only crowning glory in my life,” she said. “It is good to recognize the religious significance of the crown [King] Charles because he is the head of the Anglican Church.”
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