Bishop Philip's video message

The new Bishop of Blackburn, Rt Rev Philip North, has issued a video message to the people of Lancashire on the eve of the Coronation and bank holiday weekend that lie ahead. 

Bishop Philip's message simultaneously highlights the celebrations taking place in parishes across Lancashire, as they seek to serve their neighbourhoods and their communities, whilst also reminding people of the Christian message of service that lies at the heart of the Coronation.  

Bishop Philip says: “Jesus taught his disciples to be servants. He did that as he washed their feet at the table of the last supper. He did it above all on the cross when he gave his life away, he made of his life a gift to others. And that’s the call of a Christian, to make of our lives a gift to the world. 

“King Charles III will be doing that as he’s crowned, making of his life a gift as servant of nation and commonwealth. Churches around Lancashire seek to do that in their common life as they serve their neighbourhoods and their communities especially the poorest and the most vulnerable.” 

The Bishop adds: “I hope that you and everyone across the nation, and across the globe, really enjoys this Coronation weekend and delight in the spectacle.  

“But I also hope people have a chance to think a bit deeper, to think what’s really going on, Charles giving away his life as servant, and inviting us to do the same.” 

The video of the message in full is here and the full text of the message follows further below. 

Bishop Philip recorded his video message outside Blackburn Cathedral where there will be a special community lunch on Sunday afternoon, May 7, followed later that day by a special Choral Evensong to celebrate the Coronation which will also be livestreamed on the Cathedral YouTube channel.  

Events across the Diocese

These events at Lancashire's Anglican Cathedral lead many more that are taking place in parishes across the County over the three days.  

We have gathered a selection together in two places on our website. One is here (in ‘news in brief format) and there is also a spreadsheet-type list here (with hyperlinks in many cases for more information).

Social media

The Diocese is active across the weekend on social media and particularly Twitter @cofelancs and on Facebook/blackburndiocese, where there are already posts with pictures of events taking place in our parishes and schools that can be engaged with.

While on Monday in particular there will be highlights of parish activities for the 'Big Help Out' initiative to support communities and how parishes are getting involved. 

Bishop Jill on BBC radio for Coronation

Meanwhile, our Diocese will also be represented by the Anglican Bishop of Lancaster, Rt Rev Dr Jill Duff, this weekend on BBC radio, in a Coronation broadcast to be networked across all BBC local radio stations.

The broadcast will be coming from BBC Radio Lancashire’s studios in the heart of Blackburn, opposite Blackburn Cathedral itself. Read more about this story here.  

The award-winning Radio Lancashire station has been chosen to take the lead on the big day across the whole local radio network, with contributions giving a flavour of activities round the country from other BBC stations as the day progresses.  

Bishop Jill will work alongside BBC Radio Lancashire presenter Graham Liver on the broadcast which begins at 10am tomorrow.

Full transcript of Bishop Philip's video message

THE SERVANT KING

What a remarkable weekend we’re about to enjoy! 

It will be a weekend of celebration for the whole nation because tomorrow, on May 6, Charles III will be crowned as King.

That service will take place amidst the splendid beauty of Westminster Abbey. 

There will be stunning music, wonderful ceremonial, it’ll be a real time of joy, a fabulous spectacle for all to delight in. 

But it is also going to be a weekend of celebration for us as a Diocese and it has been tremendous to see what parishes around Blackburn Diocese are doing to enable local people to celebrate the Coronation in their own context.  

There will be special services, participating in the national ‘Big Lunch’ and much else going on; for example, the Evensong that will take place on the Sunday of Coronation weekend here where I’m recording this video, at Blackburn Cathedral. 

So, a weekend of spectacle and celebration. But what lies behind it all? Is this all just flimflam or is there something more going on than that? 

For me that’s a question that will be answered at the most intimate moment of the Coronation.  

Out of sight of us viewers, beneath a canopy, King Charles III will be anointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, with oil of chrism. 

The oil will be placed on his head, on his hands and on his breast. Anointing is an ancient sign of being set apart for service, and through that anointing, Charles, as a Christian King, will take us right to the very heart of the Christian calling.  

Jesus taught his disciples to be servants. He did that as he washed their feet at the table of the last supper. He did it above all on the cross when he gave his life away, he made of his life a gift to others. And that’s the call of a Christian, to make of our lives a gift to the world. 

King Charles III will be doing that as he’s crowned, making of his life a gift as servant of nation and commonwealth. Churches around Lancashire seek to do that in their common life as they serve their neighbourhoods and their communities especially the poorest and the most vulnerable. 

Over this Coronation weekend there will be a chance for everybody to serve with the Big Help Out on Bank Holiday Monday. 

So, I hope that you and everyone across the nation, and across the globe, really enjoy this Coronation weekend and delight in the spectacle.  

But I also hope people have a chance to think a bit deeper, to think what’s really going on: Charles giving away his life as servant  and inviting us to do the same. To make of our lives a gift to the world. 

Rt Rev. Philip North, Bishop of Blackburn

Video editing by Rebecca Whittaker

Captions from top to bottom:

• Bishop Philip pictured in a screengrab from his video message recorded in front of Blackburn Cathedral 
• Bishop Jill and the BBC’s Graham Liver who will broadcast together on Saturday during the Coronation