Gorleston vicar says it's "slightly mind-blowing" he's been invited to the King's Coronation

The invite comes not long after Reverend Matthew Price was on the late Queen's Birthday Honours list

Reverend Matthew Price, vicar at the Mary Magdalene church in Gorleston
Author: Tom ClabonPublished 1st May 2023
Last updated 2nd May 2023

A vicar from Gorleston has told it's "slightly mind-blowing" that he's been invited down to the King's Coronation, taking place this Saturday.

The invite comes not long after Reverend Matthew Price of Mary Magdalene church, was on the late Queen's Birthday Honours list.

This was because of his community work during the pandemic, in the local and surrounding areas.

"A recognition of the whole team and community"

He recalls the moment he first saw his invite:

"Opening it up, the beauty of the invitation and the sense in which it was a really grand event was what stood out. The idea that somebody from a community like this is going to be in Westminster Abbey when the King and Queen are being crowned is slightly mind-blowing.

"If I had to sum it up, I really see it as recognition of the community work that I'm involved in and all that we do to support and serve our community. To be recognised in this way is a recognition of the whole team and community".

Mr Price's invite to the Coronation

"I'm really looking forward to the music"

He talked us through what it's going to be like:

"Just to witness the atmosphere and the music- I'm really looking forward to the music, personally as I know there have been new pieces made for the occasion. Just being in Westminster Abbey is an extraordinary experience in of itself.

"I suspect there's going to be quite a bit queuing and going through security checks. But actually sitting in the Abbey, I think only then that it will really dawn on me quite what a historic occasion I'm witnessing. We have not seen this happen in our country for 70 years or so".

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.