An anointing: the Coronation of King Charles III

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by David Latter - Chair of LWPT

The Leaders of Worship and Preachers Trust (LWPT) has been linked with the royal family for many years. In 1921, our predecessor organisation, the Methodist Local Preachers Mutual Aid Association (known as LPMA), wrote to King George V to ask whether he would become its patron. Not only did King George accept, but he and Queen Mary became life members and joint patrons. Since then each reigning monarch has become a patron, including her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In spring 2016, LWPT produced an issue of Preach magazine entitled ‘Preaching from the Palace’ which looked at the Queen’s Christian life and faith. We are now in a new Carolean age where we begin to learn more of the King’s Christian background.

The Coronation Oil

During the Coronation of King Charles III, one key scene will be the anointing of both King and Queen with holy oil. The oil has been blessed in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, a church where both King Charles and I have visited, but not at the same time. This church commemorates the place where Jesus Christ was crucified and also where he was laid to rest. He rose three days later (Easter Day). The Archbishop of Canterbury has said: ‘…my desire has been for a new Coronation Oil to be produced using olive oil from the Mount of Olives. This demonstrates the deep historic link between the Coronation, the Bible and the Holy Land. From ancient kings through to the present day, monarchs have been anointed with oil from this sacred place.’[1]

The Prince’s Trust

Many people have difficulty aligning the wealth of the royal family with the plight of the UK, as seen in the cost of living crisis, the growing reliance on food banks and the extension of child poverty. However, King Charles has been conscious of the difficulties people face for more than 45 years.[2] As Prince of Wales, he had a bold idea. Having completed his duty in the Royal Navy, he dedicated himself to improving the lives of disadvantaged young people in the UK, and used his Navy severance pay of £7,400 to fund a number of community initiatives. The Prince’s Trust grew out of this and since 1976 over 1 million young people have benefited from this organisation.[3]

In Luke 4:8-19 we read:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’

These are Jesus’ words from the prophet Isaiah. This call to freedom and justice for the poor is reflected in the history and projects that King Charles has initiated through his work with the Trust.

We pray for our new King, for his approach to life and for his following the light of Christ, as he affirmed in his Christmas Day message in 2022.[4]

David Latter
Chair of LWPT


David Latter is Chair of LWPT and a long-standing local preacher in the Methodist Church.

To inform your leading and praying for the Coronation of King Charles 111, please see the Church of England resources here.