Henry is hastily crowned king in Westminster Abbey on August 5 by Maurice, the Bishop of London, as Anselm, the Archbishop of Canterbury, had been exiled by William Rufus, and Thomas, the Archbishop of York, is in the north of England at Ripon.

In accordance with English tradition and in a bid to legitimize his rule, Henry issues a coronation charter laying out various commitments.

The new king presents himself as having restored order to a trouble-torn country.

He announces that he will abandon William Rufus's policies towards the Church, which have been seen as oppressive by the clergy; he promises to prevent royal abuses of the barons' property rights, and assures a return to the gentler customs of Edward the Confessor; he asserts that he will "establish a firm peace" across England and orders "that this peace shall henceforth be kept".

In addition to his existing circle of supporters, many of whom are richly rewarded with new lands, Henry quickly co-ops many of the existing administration into his new royal household.

William Giffard, William Rufus's chancellor, is made the Bishop of Winchester, and the prominent sheriffs Urse d'Abetot, Haimo Dapifer and Robert Fitzhamon continue to play a senior role in government.

By contrast, the unpopular Ranulf Flambard, the Bishop of Durham and a key member of the previous regime, is imprisoned in the Tower of London and charged with corruption.

The late king had left many church positions unfilled, and Henry sets about nominating candidates to these, in an effort to build further support for his new government.

The appointments need to be consecrated, and Henry writes to Anselm, apologizing for having been crowned while the Archbishop is still in France and asking him to return at once.

He writes that he commits himself to be counseled by Anselm.