As Lord High Almoner, a post he has held for ten years, Bishop John is one of three bishops who are members of the Royal Household and in this capacity will attend the Coronation of HM The King next week.
He will be seated quite close to the King and Queen and, immediately after the crowning itself, will come forward with these other bishops as the Archbishop of Canterbury and Prince of Wales pay homage to our new King.
Bishop John has been involved in a number of meetings with the Archbishops in the run up to the Coronation and has attended a rehearsal in Buckingham Palace, within which was created a life-size mock-up of the area of Westminster Abbey where the coronation will take place! He will also attend rehearsals within the Abbey this coming week, with a full dress-rehearsal on Thursday.
He said: “It is an enormous privilege to be part of this momentous occasion in our national life and be able to pray in person for God’s rich blessing upon our King has he is crowned and anointed.”
The three bishops who are part of the Royal Household are the Dean of the Chapels Royal (the Bishop of London), the Clerk of the Closet (the Bishop of Carlisle) and the Lord High Almoner. Alongside the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishops of Durham and Bath and Wells are traditionally present to support HM The King, while The Queen has chosen the Bishops of Norwich and Hereford to accompany her. The Bishops of Dover and Chelmsford will also play a role in the service.
The Coronation will take place in Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May at 11am.
