Defenders of the Faith: A British history of religion and monarchy, and the role faith will play in King Charles III's coronation

by Catherine Pepinster

In 1953, millions across Britain and the world were glued to their TV sets, watching the first televised coronation of a British monarch. What they saw was a deeply religious, medieval ritual. Since then Elizabeth II's reign has been profoundly shaped by her Christian faith, expressed in her coronation vows and in her 70 years as Queen, from her role as head of the Church of England, to her annual Christmas broadcasts, her encounters with Popes, Islam and the other religions of 21st Britain and the Commonwealth. Like her husband, Prince Philip, her faith can be described as her 'strength and stay' amid the turmoil of a nation becoming increasingly secular at the same time as her subjects become increasingly more varied in their religious beliefs.

But what part will religion play in the reign of Charles III and in the coronation of a Prince of Wales who once pledged to be defender of faith, not just defender of the Christian faith? Is this the moment to junk an ancient ceremony and reinvent the Coronation to appeal to multicultural Britain, especially its young people, or one where the nation embraces tradition and its rich Coronation heritage? Could the coronation become a marketing device for ambitious politicians keen to use it to promote the image they want for Britain?

Defenders Of The Faith  explores the powerful connection between the British monarchy and religion, from its earliest times, to the Reformation, the Civil War, and the reconfigured wholesome family monarchy of Victoria and her successors, whose Christian faith steered their response to the atheistic regimes of fascism and communism that threatened Europe and their royal relatives.

Genres: Politics

352 pages, Paperback

Published September 5, 2023

Reviews

[Ken Sampson · Rating 3 out of 5]

[11 Feb 2025] This book is very niche, but is interesting and informative. It is well written and soundly constructed. It is essentially about the religion of the British monarchy and how in England the head of state is still head of the established church. It takes you through the history of this from Henry VIII and the reformation to modern more secular and 'multi-cultural / multi-faith' times. It is slightly verbose and in places repetitive and there are places that really struggle to hold the readers attention. No great reveal, new information or unique insights, but a 'go-to' resource for anyone interested in this subject. I understand it was revised after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, in anticipation of increased demand pending the coronation of King Charles III. This seems a commercial as opposed to a literary decision - as the later additional chapters are largely based on speculation and guess work, which makes it out-of-date now. If the publishers had waited a while it would have had better longevity.

A interesting and informative read.

[Phillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting telling of the Crown and their role with the Church of England throughout the centuries. There are longer tellings with Henry VIII, the rest of the Tudors, and the subsequent ups and downs with the Stuarts and "fears" of Catholicism. It then fast forwards a bit until Elizabeth II. It does touch on Victoria and other kings and queens, but the remainder of the book examines the current queen and the heir apparent's roles and beliefs. I would have loved more of a deep dive into the abdication crisis and/or an examination into Prince William, but this book is more or less a quick overview that gives the reader a good amount to digest. It does drill down into the Crown's formal roles as "Defender of the Faith" and Governor of the Church of England. It certainly allows one to think about the contemporary validity of those roles and how we should look to future monarch's in these roles. A recommend for anyone interested in the role of the UK monarch and the Church of England.