Primus to offer prayer at dedication service for the King and Queen in Edinburgh

The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church will today (5 July) contribute to a National Service Of Thanksgiving And Dedication for Their Majesties The King and Queen on the occasion of the Presentation of the Royal Honours of Scotland.

The service, which will take place at 2.15pm at St Giles’ in Edinburgh, follows on from the coronation of King Charles III, and includes the presentation of the Honours of Scotland, the historic regalia and symbols of Scottish royalty: the Crown, the Sceptre and the Sword of State.

The Primus, the Most Rev Mark Strange, will process into St Giles with the Most Rev Leo Cushley, Roman Catholic Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, the Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and other faith leaders as part of the royal procession.

During the service the Primus will offer prayer for the King, using an ancient prayer attributed to St Columba.

The service will be broadcast on BBC1, and online at this link, with coverage beginning at 1.30pm.

The order of service is available at the Church of Scotland website here.

Ahead of the service the Honours of Scotland will be paraded from Edinburgh Castle to St Giles in a People’s Procession, featuring participants from across Scotland and escorted by The Royal Regiment of Scotland. The Royal Procession will travel from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’.

First Minister Humza Yousaf, who will read from Psalm 19 during the service, said: “Scotland will welcome the new King and Queen in July with a series of events to mark the Coronation. A People’s Procession, a Royal Procession, a National Service of Thanksgiving and a Gun Salute will take place in Edinburgh.

“Representatives from many different communities and organisations in Scotland will take part in these historic events.”

The sermon will be given by the Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, and the prayers of intercession will be led by The Most Reverend Leo Cushley; Professor Liz Grant, member of the Church of Scotland; The Reverend Dr Amos Chewachong, minister of Newport-on-Tay Parish Church; and the Dean of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal. Blessings and Greetings from Representatives of Faith and Belief Communities across Scotland are led by Chief Imam Dr Sayed Razawi, Director General, Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society, Dr Srihari Vallabhajousula, Honorary Priest, Hindu Temple of Scotland, Glasgow, Rabbi Moshe Rubin, Senior Rabbi in Scotland, Getsulma – Ani Rinchen Khandro, Director of Kagyu Samye Dzong Edinburgh, and Fraser Sutherland, Chief Executive of Humanist Society Scotland.

Music during the service is performed by a wide variety of Scottish ensembles and musicians, and includes an arrangement of Ye Banks and Braes, by Robert Burns, arranged by Dr John Kitchen, Director of Music of Old Saint Paul’s, Edinburgh, and Edinburgh City Organist.