Defenders of the Faith

During the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the Christian Church will take centre stage once again, as the established religion in England. But why does the Church have such prominence in state affairs, and should it keep this privileged position in 21st Century, multi-faith Britain?

In 1953, millions across the world watched the first televised coronation of a British monarch. What they witnessed was a deeply religious, medieval Christian ritual. Elizabeth II's reign was profoundly shaped by her faith, expressed not only in her coronation vows but also in her 70 years as Queen, from her role as supreme governor of the Church of England, to her annual Christmas broadcasts, her encounters with Popes, Islam and the other religions. Like her late husband, Prince Philip, the Queen's faith was described as her 'strength and stay' amid the turmoil of a nation becoming increasingly secular at the same time as her subjects became increasingly more varied in their religious beliefs.

During Queen Elizabeth's coronation she was anointed by the Archbishop for her role in serving the country as Queen. But what part will Christianity play in the reign of King Charles III, who as Prince of Wales once said he'd prefer to be defender of faith? Plans for the coronation are now in full swing and speculation is mounting as to whether this is the moment to jettison an ancient rite and reinvent the Coronation to appeal to multicultural Britain, or whether our nation ought to embrace tradition and reassert its Christian heritage in the new Carolean age.

Defenders Of The Faith explores the powerful connection between religion and the British monarchy from its earliest times, through to the Reformation, the Civil War, and the reconfigured wholesome family monarchy of Victoria and her successors, down to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II -- and into the future when the new Defender of the Faith is crowned.

It's a delight to walk the faith trail trodden by monarchs past, the monarch present and the monarch to come with the discriminating mind and poised pen of Catherine Pepinster as one's guide. It's real knowledge; impressively transmitted. Her faith is central to the character of The Queen and fundamental to the understanding of her reign yet in our secular time this is not always fully appreciated. Thanks to Defenders of the Faith, it is now. -- Peter Hennessy
fascinating, thorough and timely...[Pepinster] shines particularly in the task of sketching the faith of the Queen, about which, as she rightly remarks, the stacks of royal biographies make "barely a mention". Daily Telegraph (5-star review)
The most valuable part of Defenders of the Faith shows how Queen Elizabeth II has responded to the vastly changed ecumenical and interfaith picture since the Second World War. -- Richard Chartres Church Times
an authoritative and timely exploration of the British monarchy Methodist Recorder
It's a delight to walk the faith trail trodden by monarchs past, the monarch present and the monarch to come with the discriminating mind and poised pen of Catherine Pepinster as one's guide. It's real knowledge; impressively transmitted. Her faith is central to the character of The Queen and fundamental to the understanding of her reign yet in our secular time this is not always fully appreciated. Thanks to Defenders of the Faith, it is now. -- Peter Hennessy
fascinating, thorough and timely...[Pepinster] shines particularly in the task of sketching the faith of the Queen, about which, as she rightly remarks, the stacks of royal biographies make "barely a mention". Daily Telegraph (5-star review)
The most valuable part of Defenders of the Faith shows how Queen Elizabeth II has responded to the vastly changed ecumenical and interfaith picture since the Second World War. -- Richard Chartres Church Times
an authoritative and timely exploration of the British monarchy Methodist Recorder

Catherine Pepinster is a journalist, author and broadcaster. After many years in national newspapers she was editor of The Tablet, the independent Catholic weekly for thirteen years. For the past five years she has been writing for The Times, Sunday Times, Daily and Sunday Telegraph, The Guardian, The Observer, mostly about religion, and also for specialist religion titles. Catherine has also been a contributor to 'Thought For The Day' on BBC Radio 4's Today programme for eighteen years.

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