God Save the Queen

"On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne, this book both celebrates and explores the religious and spiritual dimensions of monarchy. Ian Bradley argues that it is in this area, largely neglected in current debate, that the future of monarchy lies." "Starting with a detailed examination of both Old and New Testament teaching on kingship and Celtic and Anglo-Saxon understanding of sacred monarchy, the book goes on to provide a historical account of the development of Christian monarchy in Britain from the Middle Ages to the present day. Special consideration is given to the meaning and significance of the coronation service." "Ian Bradley presents the current debates on issues such as the monarch's role as Defender of the Faith, Roman Catholic accession to the throne, the relationship between the Crown and the churches and the issue of establishment. In his incisive closing chapter, Bradley argues for a re-sacralised monarchy representing the spiritual dimension in national life."--