Coronation Liturgy & Music at Westminster Abbey

Words crown the mind; music crowns the heart.

The Liturgy Arc

• Recognition → Oath → Anointing → Investiture → Crowning → Enthronement → Homage → Communion.
• Each segment bears musical cues and textual highlights.

Signature Music Moments

• Handel’s “Zadok the Priest”: a burst of anointed energy at the anointing/crowning.
• Newly commissioned works (2023): reflect contemporary voices within tradition.
• Te Deum: thanksgiving that fills vaults and nave.

Where to Listen in the Abbey

• Choir and organ lofts focus sound down the nave.
• Stone and vaulting enrich resonance—arrive early for good placement.

Visitor Tips

• Free Choral Evensong offers a taste of the Abbey’s sound world.
• Look for special music exhibitions or program notes.

Bottom Line

The coronation’s theology sings—history and harmony in one space.