Ian Bradley

Ian Bradley on God Save The King

We are delighted to announce an event with Professor Emeritus Ian Bradley to discuss his latest book God Save The King. Professor Bradley, who is a brilliant orator, will tell us all of the specific sacred rites that will be performed on King Charles' coronation day and the significance of the crown in contemporary society.

As Charles III is crowned King of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, this timely book explains the symbolism of the coronation, and the unique significance of monarchy in the history of the British Isles. God Save the King explores the theme of sacred kingship, its origins in primal religion, its central role in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible and its representation in modern popular culture.

The book also analyses the particular relationship in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth between sovereign and church, the monarch's traditional roles as protector of Protestantism and Defender of the Faith, and how these are being reinterpreted in the context of a multi-faith and multi-cultural Britain. This is an indispensable and essential guide to the history, structure and symbolism of the coronation service, including lively anecdotes about things that have gone wrong in past ceremonies. It will provide the perfect companion for all who wish to understand the significance and symbolism of what will happen on the 6th of May.