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A day of history in Westminster Abbey

The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, the Most Revd John McDowell, presented and retrieved the Sovereign’s Orb as part of the Coronation in Westminster Abbey today (Saturday, 6th May 2023) of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of their other Realms and Territories.

The Procession also included Archbishop Eamon Martin, the Rt Revd Dr John Kirkpatrick, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and the Revd David Nixon, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland.  Bishop Andrew Forster, in his role as President of the Irish Council of Churches, took part in the service from within the gathered congregation.

The Rt Revd the Lord Eames of Armagh was present in the Procession as a member of the Order of Merit, an honour in the personal gift of the Sovereign, which he received from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2007.  Lord Eames, a past pupil of Methodist College Belfast, had the pleasure of meeting the girl singers from Methody before they performed at the Coronation.

Archbishop McDowell with two Australian recipients of the Victoria Cross who were guests at the Coronation Service.
Archbishop McDowell with two Australian recipients of the Victoria Cross who were guests at the Coronation Service.
Archbishop Eamon Martin, Lord Eames, and Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and  President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.
Archbishop Eamon Martin, Lord Eames, and Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.

Photography from inside Westminster Abbey © Press Association.

With thanks to JP Ellgen, Canon John Auchmuty, Jonathan Brady, Aaron Chown, and Phil Noble.  Photography from the Coronation Service for publication in online formats or in print media is available at www.alamy.com


 

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