Rhiannon Hendricks
Reverend Michael Curry, the first African-American bishop of the Episcopal Church, delivered a powerful sermon at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Curry's sermon lasted 13 to 14 minutes and was described as riveting and extraordinary. In his speech, he spoke passionately about the power of love, quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and referencing slavery. Curry's address was seen as a significant break from tradition and captured the world's attention.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Reverend | Michael Curry |
| Designation | Bishop |
| Speech duration | 13-14 minutes |
| Sermon topic | Power of love |
| Sermon theme | Christianity, Spirituality, Social Justice |
| Sermon style | Traditional African-American church |
| Sermon mentions | Martin Luther King Jr., Jesus of Nazareth, Moses, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin |
| Sermon occasion | Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle |
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What You'll Learn
Michael Curry's sermon was 13-14 minutes long
Bishop Michael Curry, the first Black presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, gave a powerful sermon at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Curry's sermon was 13 to 14 minutes long and captured the world's attention with its length and passion. The Chicago-born bishop spoke about the power of love, quoting Dr Martin Luther King Jr. and referencing a hymnal sung by slaves in the antebellum South. He preached in a full-throated, uninhibited, theatrical, and emotive style, in contrast to the solemn and stationary ecclesiastical address that preceded his.
Curry's sermon was a significant break from tradition, with its wide-ranging and colourful content. He spoke passionately about the power of love, saying, "There's power in love, don't underestimate it." He also referenced the late French philosopher and Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, listing the many uses of fire and drawing a connection to the discovery and harnessing of fire as a great technological advancement in human history. Curry's sermon was not just a celebration of the love between Harry and Meghan but a call to action, urging that love must be the answer to the world's problems.
The sermon was described as "the fire speech" on social media due to the numerous references to fire made by the preacher. Curry's delivery, complete with gestures, robe-swinging, and a big smile, added to the impact of his words. He acknowledged that he may have gone on for too long, saying towards the end that he had to wrap up as "we gotta get you all married!". Curry's sermon will go down in history as a moment when the enduring seat of colonialism was questioned within the walls of the pinnacle of the Anglican establishment.
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He quoted Martin Luther King Jr
Bishop Michael Curry, the first black presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, delivered a powerful sermon at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. He spoke passionately about the power of love, quoting Dr Martin Luther King Jr. "There's power in love, don't underestimate it," he said, quoting Dr King.
Curry's sermon was a significant break from tradition. He quoted from Dr King to begin and end his speech, which was not something witnessed within the walls of the Anglican establishment at a royal wedding. Curry's address was a colourful and wide-ranging speech, replete with historical references, that had churchgoers smiling and transfixed.
Curry's quotation of Dr King drew from a 1957 sermon on the subject of "Loving Your Enemies," delivered by Dr King at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. In that sermon, Dr King spoke of the power of love and its ability to transform:
> "It seems to me that this is the only way. As our eyes look to the future, as we look out across the years and across the generations, let us develop and move right here. We must discover the power of love, the power, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that, we will be able to make this old world a new world."
Curry's reference to Dr King's words carried a political message that might be considered surprising for a royal wedding sermon. However, it was fitting for Markle, an American bride with an African American mother, to be welcomed into the royal family with the words of one of the most powerful orators of the civil rights movement.
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He referenced slavery
Bishop Michael Curry, a Chicago native and the first black presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, gave a powerful and passionate sermon at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Curry's sermon was a significant break from tradition. For 14 minutes, he preached in the full-throated, uninhibited, theatrical and emotive style of the traditional African-American church. He referenced the Hebrew scriptures and the "old slaves in America's antebellum South" who recognised in their singing of spirituals, "even in the midst of their captivity", that there is "a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole".
Curry quoted Martin Luther King Jr. at the beginning and end of his speech, saying:
> "We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world."
Curry's reference to slavery was an inherent accusation of white complicity in the enduring seat of colonialism. His sermon was a groundbreaking moment, bringing this accusation before the Lord in the house of the British establishment.
Curry's sermon was welcomed as a beautiful and powerful celebration of blackness and a symbol of all that is still possible and hopeful in modern Britain.
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He spoke about the power of love
Reverend Michael Curry, the first black presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, gave a powerful sermon at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. In his sermon, Reverend Curry spoke passionately about the power of love, quoting Dr Martin Luther King Jr. "There's power in love, don't underestimate it," he said, urging Christians to put love at the centre of their spiritual and political lives.
He emphasised the importance of unconditional love and its ability to transform the world. Reverend Curry referenced the words of Jesus of Nazareth, who taught that love is the way to a real relationship with God and with each other as children of the same God. He also mentioned the example set by old slaves in America's antebellum South, who, even in the midst of their captivity, sang spirituals that recognised the power of love to heal and bring wholeness.
The sermon was a significant break from tradition, with Reverend Curry's energetic and emotive delivery style contrasting the solemnity typically associated with royal wedding addresses. His sermon, lasting around 13 to 14 minutes, captivated the elite crowd of guests and the global television audience, becoming one of the most memorable moments of the wedding.
Reverend Curry's message of love extended beyond interpersonal relationships, advocating that when love is the way, it becomes a force for justice and positive change in the world. He envisioned a world where poverty is eradicated and all children are cared for, with love as the driving force behind these transformations.
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He defended same-sex marriage
Reverend Michael Curry, the first Black person to serve as Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, delivered a powerful sermon at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Curry's sermon was described as a break from tradition and captivated the world with its passionate message about the power of love.
Curry has been an outspoken advocate for social justice issues, including LGBTQ+ rights and marriage equality. He defended the Episcopal Church's decision to allow same-sex couples to marry in church, which caused some churches to cut ties. The Episcopal Church has long been committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion and gender equality, which has been a point of tension with Anglican leaders.
Curry, in a meeting with fellow bishops in 2016, drew a connection between the exclusion and bigotry experienced by Black people and the exclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals. He told the New York Times:
> "What I was attempting to do was to describe the deep pain for LGBTQ+ folk who've had to live with not being accepted by the church of Jesus Christ. And sometimes by families and loved ones, and by society. I wanted my brothers to know that our actions would bring them real pain. I said, anytime anybody is excluded, it hurts. I can tell you in all honesty, my brothers listened. They did listen."
Curry's role as the preacher at the royal wedding was significant, signalling LGBTQ+ acceptance and inclusion. His presence and message of love and justice resonated with many, and his sermon will go down in history as a powerful moment in the royal wedding ceremony.
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Frequently asked questions
Reverend Curry spoke for 13 minutes at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Reverend Curry spoke about the power of love to change the world, quoting Martin Luther King Jr. and referencing a hymnal sung by slaves in the antebellum South. He also spoke about fire and its many uses, from cooking food to broadcasting the wedding around the world.
Reverend Curry is known for his social justice work, including his defence of the Episcopal Church's decision to allow same-sex couples to marry in church in 2015. He has also spoken out on issues such as LGBT rights, immigration policy, and marriage equality.
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