The Anointing at the British Coronation

This video is going to be the first of two videos looking at the anointing of the sovereign and in these two videos I am going to explore with you three things. In a moment I am going to look at the ceremony of the anointing within the context of the coronation itself, what happens in it, why happens in it and what it is intended to do. This involves talking about theology, for this ceremony is rooted in deep Christian tradition and symbolism. In the second part I am going to look at the very complex and fascinating history of the anointing oils used at coronations –surprisingly this is an area of coronation tradition that has seen constant innovation over the years as the religious climate of the nation changed.