‘A declaration of our hopes for the future’ : Coronations from the Middle Ages to the present day

Topical small exhibition at Lambeth Palace Library of documents and artefacts relating to previous coronations.

In the week leading up to the Coronation I needed a related exhibition and this fit the bill perfectly. Although it was small it narrated some good stories from past Archbishops of Canterbury who had presided at the ceremonies.

In a room to the side there was the cope and mitre worn by Archbishop Fisher in 1953 and with them were prompt boards made for Archbishop Temple for Edward VII’s coronation as he was 80 and his eyesight was failing. A later commentary told how the king kept muttering, 'I am very anxious about the Archbishop’ though the service.

The earliest object was a 13th century copy of Henry I’s Coronation Charter, the earliest surviving one.  I think my favourite object was Archbishop Manners-Sutton at the coronation of George IV, with the signature of the King at the foot of the oath. The manuscript text of the coronation oath was mislaid and George IV signed the Archbishop's copy instead. I felt it represented a very human moment with echoes of King Charles issues with a fountain pen at the Declaration.

Closes 13 July 2023


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Telegraph


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