printed 19 June 2024
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A Church of Scotland minister has been made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order. (LVO)
The Rev Kenneth Mackenzie was honored by His Majesty King Charles III in recognition of distinguished private service to the King and members of the Royal Household.
The minister of the parishes of Brymer and Crathier in Aberdeenshire is a member of the Chapel Royal and has supplied pastoral and non secular help to the royal household since 2005.
Members of the Royal Household worship at Crathy Kirk whereas staying at close by Balmoral Fort – a haven that was adored by the late Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip.
A home chaplain, Mr Mackenzie was at Balmoral in September 2022 to consolation the royal household following the demise of Her Majesty the Queen.
He stated: “I’m proud that His Majesty the King has been awarded this recognition immediately.
“In making this presentation, he and, by extension, different members of the Royal Household, as soon as once more publicly acknowledged and expressed gratitude for the prayerful pastoral help given to him and the household by the Church, and specifically by the Chapel, all through the royal period in Scotland and notably in recent times.
“These awards are given solely to people, however in every case the recipient has all the time represented a much wider group.
“On the time of the late Queen’s demise at Balmoral, I used to be the chaplain most intently related to the royal household and was doing what my colleagues would have achieved and have achieved in any comparable state of affairs.”
Pastoral help
Mr Mackenzie, generally known as Ken, attended to HM the Queen in her last days.
He was a part of the funeral cortege on the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh and, together with different members of the Chapel Royal, watched over Her Majesty’s coffin because it lay in repose on the Palace and later at St Giles’ Cathedral.
All through the mourning interval, royal chaplains supported the royal household and Mr Mackenzie performed an official function throughout a service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Fort the place the Queen was laid to relaxation beside her husband.
Ministers within the Church of Scotland present pastoral help to all folks dwelling of their parishes, and the Royal Household is not any completely different.
There are 10 chaplains to the King in Scotland, and every normally holds the submit till the age of 70.
The celebrated function dates again to the fifteenth century, and members of the Chapel Royal take part in formal state ceremonies and conduct companies on essential nationwide events.
Chaplains are a part of His Majesty’s family, together with a doctor, a surgeon, an apothecary, a sculptor, an astronomer, a historian and a number of other others.
His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, represented King Charles as Lord Excessive Commissioner within the Commons final month and paid his respects on the Chapel Royal.
He stated: “For my very own half, I want to pay private tribute to the chaplains on the Chapel Royal and particularly these right here in Scotland.
“There have been moments lately once I really feel that I’m fortunate to really feel God’s care and love. Who can neglect the scenes after my mom’s demise?
“The outpouring of emotion, the show of respect, love and grief was overwhelming and a possibility to expertise and see.
“I feel I can converse for my complete household once I say that we are going to be eternally grateful for that help.
“Coming so quickly after my father’s demise, which in fact occurred whereas we had been nonetheless beneath pandemic restrictions, made all the things much more emotional.
“I used to be actually impressed and comforted by the way in which the chaplains made us all really feel behind closed doorways and away from public view and scrutiny.
“Sure, I do know it is a part of the job description so possibly I should not have been stunned, however it’s not essentially what they did, it is how they did it.
“There have been centuries of custom, lengthy practiced rituals, prayers, care and luxury.”
A historic oath
The Royal Victorian Order was established in 1896 by Queen Victoria as a private award to acknowledge “distinguished private companies” to the monarch and her household.
It was the primary order of chivalry to be awarded on the sole discretion of Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal, the Sovereign and present Grand Grasp.
Signing a historic oath to uphold the Presbyterian system of church authorities in Scotland was His Royal Highness’s first act since being formally proclaimed King following the demise of his mom, Queen Elizabeth.
British monarchs have sworn to uphold Protestantism and keep Presbyterian Church authorities in Scotland, and the oath displays the church’s constitutional independence from the state.
The Church of Scotland acknowledges solely Jesus Christ as ‘King and Head of the Church’.
King Charles III, subsequently, doesn’t maintain the title of ‘Supreme Governor’ of the Church of Scotland and His Majesty does in order a lay member when attending Church companies in Scotland.
