It’s not everyday that you are invited to attend the coronation of a king, and when that happens to be in the beautiful island of Tonga then it is very special. The first Methodist missionaries, John Thomas and John Hutchinson, landed in Tonga on June 28, 1826 and since then the Free Wesleyan Methodist Church has been part of the warp and weft of the island at every level.

The late king was a local preacher and of course many people in Britain still remember his mother, Queen Salote, with great affection when she attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

The invitation to attend the coronation was a sign of our partnership with the Methodist Church in Tonga. There was no memory of a presiding President of the British Methodist Conference visiting them ever before and so it was seen as a very special affirmation of our relationship with a Church that is literally on the other side of the world. Myrtle and I were accompanied by Chris Elliot, the new Secretary for External Relations, and Steve Pearce, the area secretary for Asia and the Pacific — and we were treated royally!

When we arrived on the island there was a buzz of excitement as Tongans were returning from all around the world to be there for this very special moment in their country’s history. We stayed at Tupou College, the Methodist residential school, and were hosted so graciously by the principal and his wife, Hoi and Nunia Mone.

The ex-students, scattered all around the world, have recently funded the building of the new principal’s house. They had hoped that the first person to use the guest room would be the President of their own Conference, but when they heard we were coming they were happy for Myrtle and I to have this honour!

I was constantly amazed at the generosity of the people of Tonga in the way they give to their Church and how those who live in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Britain and many other countries continue to support their families and Church as a sign of love and gratitude.

I had wondered if there would be a tension in the kingdom of Tonga at the lavishness of the coronation. There was some trouble a few months ago but the new king has already shown he is willing to bring in more democracy and there was a genuine feeling of celebration everywhere we went.

The streets were so clean and each community had decorated archways; most homes displayed ribbons and balloons as they prepared themselves to welcome their new king. There was the traditional Kava Installation Ceremony, where the new king was honoured by the nobles and installed into the traditional tide of Tu’i Kanokupola making him the 23rd holder of that title as the head of a dynasty which was founded in the 17th century but has political and cultural roots going back into the 10th century.

The Christian coronation was held at Centenary Methodist church, Nuku’alofa, where King George Tupou V took his oaths before God to perform his duties as the king of the people of Tonga. The church looked magnificent, having recently been renovated, the usual pews had been taken out and replaced by more than 1,000 custom built chairs each displaying GTV.

People began arriving at least an hour and half before the service began and we were able to watch the Tongan royals arrive and all the overseas dignitaries, including the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. Everyone was dressed in their finery — just before we left England we heard that it was formal dress - top hat and tails - so we had to hire them during our few days in New Zealand and have some very interesting photos!

The king processed into the church dressed in his ermine robes and there was all the sense of pomp associated with die crowning of a new king alongside the dignified simplicity and beauty of the Tongan culture. The combined Methodist choirs were superb and a tingle ran down my spine as they sang ‘Zadok the Priest’ and ended the worship with the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’.

Then it was off the palace for the banquet with countless roasted pigs, lobsters, octopus, yams, salads, coconuts, fruits and so much more it was indeed a feast fit for a king!

The celebrations had begun a few days earlier and continued into the weekend with military parades, traditional dancing, balls, medal ceremonies and of course a rugby match between Tonga and the Rest of the World — you might guess who won! The final event was the coronation Sunday service and I was honoured and humbled in being asked to preach. It was a wonderful time of worship and for many this was the pinnacle of all the celebrations, offering their nation, the people and the new king to God in prayer.

At our Conference a month previously I had been encouraging us as the Church in Britain to be transformed by the grace of God and here in this royal Kingdom of Tonga I encountered God’s grace again and again. There was such rich hospitality, not only from our hosts, but from everyone we met. We were continually being surprised by acts of love and such gratitude for our presence - a sign of incarnational love.

There was such a deep commitment of faith among so many of the people we met, which came out of a spirituality that continues to be shaped and fashioned by the culture and one which will continue to challenge us in the western Church in the coming years.

Perhaps as we seek to crown Christ Jesus as our king we, too, might become people of such generous and gracious hospitality that will reveal to those around us the grace of God?