Mixed responses have greeted the announcement of a new oath called the Homage of the People, which the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has invited people to recite during the upcoming coronation of King Charles III.
The ceremony, scheduled for Saturday at Westminster Abbey, will be a groundbreaking event as it will be the first time a cry of support will be included. The Homage of the People will replace the traditional Homage of Peers, in which a line of hereditary peers knelt and pledged their allegiance to the monarch in person.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, who is also the Dean of Westminster, announced the change in a statement on Monday. He encouraged people to join in the Homage of the People, saying that it was a way for the public to show their support for the new king.
However, the announcement has not been without controversy. Some people have criticized the decision, saying that it is inappropriate for the Archbishop to encourage people to pledge their allegiance to the monarchy. Others have said that the Homage of the People is a meaningless gesture and that it does not truly represent the voice of the people.
The words of the Coronation oath read: “I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.”
During an interview with Premier, Christian author and activist Symon Hill said he does not agree that the oath goes in line with the Christian teaching.
“As Christians, our loyalty is to King Jesus, and to swear allegiance to anyone really should be something that gives us pause for thought as Christians, at the very least and I would suggest isn’t something that really fits in with seeking to be loyal to the kingdom of God.”
“God loves Charles Windsor, just as God loves you and me, and Charles is a sinful and fallible human being like you and me.
“For one of us to bow down to another, I think goes against that ethos that Jesus exemplified when he knelt and washed His own follower’s feet.
“I think we’ve got better values to celebrate on Saturday than pledging allegiance to somebody who essentially is king because his ancestors violently fought off other claimants to the throne.”
Despite the criticism, many people have expressed their excitement about the coronation and the inclusion of the Homage of the People. Some have even suggested that the new oath is a step towards a more democratic monarchy, where the voice of the people is heard and respected.
The coronation of King Charles III is a significant event in British history. It marks the beginning of a new era for the country, and the inclusion of the Homage of the People is a reflection of the changing times.
