Julian's words feature on the Coronation anointing screen

 Photo credit: Victoria Jones/PA Wire

Revd Richard Stanton, Priest Director of the Julian Shrine, writes:

The screen behind which King Charles III will be anointed with holy oil at His Majesty’s Coronation in Westminster Abbey features words from Julian of Norwich, derived from the Shewings she experienced 650 years ago this May.

The text from Julian - "All shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well" - is embroidered on a scroll at the foot of a tree bearing 56 leaves for each of the countries of the Commonwealth.

Blessed on Monday 24th April and unveiled later that week, the screen will be used to give privacy to the sacred moment of the King's anointing on Saturday 6th May and has been made by the Royal School of Needlework.

The design also features decorative roses, rejoicing angels and a dove to symbolise the Holy Spirit, and pays tribute to the King's lifelong passion for sustainability.

The anointing, and not the crowning, is the most sacred and significant part of the ancient ceremonies of the Coronation, during which the Archbishop of Canterbury pours holy oil from the Ampulla (or vessel) on to the Coronation Spoon, and anoints the sovereign on the hands, breast, and head "as Solomon was anointed king by Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet."

The long use of holy oil within the life of the Church emerges directly from the practice of God's ancient People Israel and is a sign of the incorporation of all the baptised into the priestly ministry of Jesus "the Christ", which means "the Anointed One."

Read more about the Coronation screen on the Royal Family's website