[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
Sin—While it is true that the Church of Scotland is no less " established " than the Church of England, as your cor- respondent, Mr. D. E. Auty, states, the relation of the King to the two Churches is entirely different. The character of the English Reformation was such that the Sovereign became, and remains, Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Scot- tish Presbyterians could not accept him as Supreme Governor of their own Church without doing violence to its history ; and the active participation of Scottish ministers in the English Coronation Service would be a disregard of Scottish Church principles, since it would imply acceptance of the Royal Supremacy in matters ecclesiastical, as required of the Arch- bishops and Bishops of the Church of England. For the same reason, English Free Church ministers, who are mindful of their Free Church history, would presumably have a conscien- tious objection to taking part in the Coronation Service.
As far as Scotland is concerned, however, there is precedent for a Presbyterian Coronation. Charles II was crowned with a Presbyterian rite at Scone on January 1st, 1651.-1 am, Sir,
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