04/05/2023
As the country prepares to celebrate the Coronation of the King and Queen at Westminster Abbey, more than 2,000 local events have been registered by Church of England churches.
Thousands of churches will screen the event, taking advantage of special licence exemptions from the BBC to see Archbishop Justin Welby anoint and crown Their Majesties.
The range of events is exciting, with lots of interesting events to choose from. Highlights include a Coronation Cream Tea at St Andrew's Barming Heath in the Diocese of Canterbury; a Coronation Flower Festival at St Andrew's Aysgarth, Diocese of Leeds; Picnic in the Park at All Saints Church Wokingham, Diocese of Oxford; Hymns and Pimms at Eaton Bishop: St Michael & All Angels, Diocese of Hereford; Crowns, Coffee & Croissants at Rockland: St Mary in Norwich Diocese, and many more.
The Diocese of Norwich has so far seen the most events registered, with more than 160 being added to AChurchNearYou.com – the website which allows users to find services and events near them, using postcode or geo-location search.
The Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, said: “It’s exciting to see communities up and down the country preparing to mark the Coronation in their own ways.
“Like at Westminster Abbey, services of worship will be at the heart of these celebrations, which give us an opportunity not only to pray for the King and Queen, but for communities across the UK and the Commonwealth they serve.
It’s not too late for churches to add their own events at AChurchNearYou.com.
The service is free to use, and available to anyone who is interested in attending a service or event – whether or not they have been to church before.