George Boyle
The American preacher at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Bishop Michael Bruce Curry, gave a passionate and powerful address that captured the world's attention. His speech, which quoted Martin Luther King Jr. and spoke of love and American slavery, was approximately 14 minutes long. It was a break from the traditional Anglican style, with his energetic and flamboyant delivery leaving some members of the royal family bemused and others delighted. Bishop Curry brought American fire and flair to the ceremony, making him an overnight celebrity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Michael Bruce Curry |
| Title | Bishop |
| Born | Chicago, Illinois |
| Raised | Buffalo, New York |
| Age at the time of the sermon | 65 |
| Theme of the sermon | Love |
| Notable quotes | "There's power in love, don't underestimate it" |
| Other topics discussed | American slavery, LGBT rights, social justice issues, and sexual abuse |
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What You'll Learn
Who is Reverend Michael Curry?
Reverend Michael Curry is an American retired bishop who was the 27th presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church. He was the first African American to be elected to the role, serving from 2015 to 2024. Curry is known for his powerful and passionate sermons, including the one he gave at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Curry was born on March 13, 1953, in Maywood, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. He graduated with high honours from Hobart College in 1975 and earned a Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School in 1978. He has studied at various other prestigious institutions, including Princeton Theological Seminary, Wake Forest University, and the Institute of Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies.
Throughout his ministry in North Carolina, Curry was active in social justice issues, speaking out on immigration policy, marriage equality, and LGBT rights. He also led a successful campaign to buy malaria nets, saving over 100,000 lives. In 2016, he represented the Anglican Communion at the Vatican, emphasising the need for Christian cooperation.
Curry gained worldwide attention for his sermon at the royal wedding, where he spoke passionately about the power of love, quoting Dr Martin Luther King Jr. His energetic and colourful speech, which also referenced fire, was seen as a break from tradition and captured the attention of both the elite guests and the global television audience.
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The sermon
Curry's address, described as "fire" for the numerous references made by the preacher, captivated the elite crowd of guests and the global television audience. The bride and groom, who personally invited Curry to speak, sat near him and held hands as they listened to his sermon. The bishop's energetic preaching style, which included throwing his arms in the air, stood in contrast to the more solemn and muted Anglican style that the royal family is accustomed to.
In his sermon, Curry proclaimed:
> There's power in love. Love can help and heal when nothing else can. There's power in love to lift up and liberate when nothing else will.
He also spoke about the many uses of fire, drawing on the words of the late French philosopher and Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Curry listed how fire has been used throughout history, from cooking food to broadcasting the royal wedding around the world.
Curry's sermon was one of several personal touches that Harry and Meghan added to the service, reflecting their shared commitment to social justice issues. The bishop has previously spoken out on racial justice, LGBT equality, and the need to address systemic sexism and misuse of power within the church.
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Reactions to the sermon
The passionate sermon delivered by American Bishop Michael Curry at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 was a significant break from tradition. It captured the world's attention and sparked a range of reactions from the elite guests in attendance and the global television audience.
Curry's animated and wide-ranging speech, which quoted Dr Martin Luther King Jr., discussed American slavery, and proclaimed the power of love, left the royal family with a mix of "priceless expressions". While some appeared transfixed, others seemed unsure how to react to the bold and flamboyant preacher.
Several spectators noted the contrasting reactions of the newlyweds, with Meghan Markle doing her best to keep a straight face as Prince Harry appeared exasperated. The Duchess of Cornwall was seen smiling during the address, while Kate Middleton's side-eye glances in her direction drew attention on social media.
Zara Tindall's hilarious reaction, with her arms splayed and eyes shifting, was also widely noticed and compared to Joanna Lumley's character Patsy Stone in "Absolutely Fabulous". Prince William was spotted with a fit of giggles, and Prince Philip wore a look of sheer puzzlement. The Queen maintained a stony expression throughout the sermon.
On social media, the preacher's performance sparked a flood of side-splitting memes, with many spectators commenting on the visible reactions of the royal family. Former Labour Party leader Ed Miliband tweeted that the bishop could "almost make [him] a believer". Another Twitter user wrote: "I'm cackling because the Americans are listening to this sermon like, 'Oh yeah, this is how this works' and all the camera shots of the Brits have them looking around at each other like ???????".
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The ceremony
The wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held in the 15th-century St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The service was conducted by the Dean of Windsor, David Conner, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who married the couple. However, it was the American preacher, Bishop Michael Curry, who stole the show with his powerful and passionate sermon on the theme of love.
Bishop Curry, the first black leader of the Episcopal Church in the United States, was hand-picked by the couple to address their 600 wedding guests. His sermon, which quoted Martin Luther King Jr. and African-American spirituals, was a significant break from the more solemn and muted Anglican style that the royal family is accustomed to. The Chicago-born bishop spoke about the "redemptive power of love", telling the bride and groom, "it's not just for, and about, a young couple who we rejoice with, it's more than that." He also referenced fire, quoting the late French philosopher and Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and listing its many uses, from cooking food to broadcasting the wedding around the world.
The preacher's energetic and flamboyant delivery, complete with arm-waving, surprised and delighted many observers, with some describing his speech as "fire" for the large number of references made to it. His message of love resonated with both the elite crowd of guests in the church and the global television audience, with people taking to Twitter to express their amusement and admiration for the bishop's performance.
Bishop Curry's sermon lasted around 14 minutes, during which he captivated the audience with his passionate words and animated gestures. His sermon has been described as "riveting", "moving", and "entertaining", leaving some members of the royal family bemused while others laughed and nodded along. The newlywed couple, Meghan and Harry, sat near the preacher, holding hands as they listened to his inspiring message.
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The wedding's trans-Atlantic nature
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2018 was a grand affair, with the bride and groom putting several personal touches on the ceremony. One of the most notable aspects was the inclusion of an American preacher, Bishop Michael Curry, who delivered a powerful and passionate sermon on the theme of love.
Bishop Curry is the first African-American to serve as the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States, an offshoot of the Church of England. His presence at the royal wedding brought a unique trans-Atlantic flavour to the traditionally English church service. With his energetic and flamboyant preaching style, Bishop Curry captivated the audience, which included members of the royal family, celebrities, and a global television audience.
Bishop Curry's sermon stood out for its colourful and wide-ranging content, including references to American slavery, quotes from the Bible, Martin Luther King Jr., and African-American spirituals. His message of "love is the way" resonated deeply with the couple and their guests, offering a modern and inclusive perspective on the power of love and its ability to heal and liberate.
The choice of Bishop Curry as the guest preacher was a deliberate decision by the couple, reflecting their desire to incorporate their personal values and cultural backgrounds into the wedding ceremony. By including an American preacher, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle not only celebrated their trans-Atlantic union but also emphasised the importance of diversity and inclusivity, making their wedding a memorable and groundbreaking event in the history of the royal family.
The trans-Atlantic nature of the wedding extended beyond the presence of Bishop Curry. Meghan Markle, an American actress, brought her own cultural heritage to the ceremony, including her Roman Catholic upbringing. In the lead-up to the wedding, she was baptised into the Church of England, symbolically uniting the religious traditions of both sides of the Atlantic.
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Frequently asked questions
The American preacher, Bishop Michael Curry, was at the royal wedding for the duration of his sermon, which was approximately 14 minutes long.
Bishop Curry is the first African-American to serve as presiding bishop of the predominantly white US Episcopal Church. He is the first black leader of the Episcopal Church in the United States and is the 65-year-old minister from Chicago, Illinois.
Bishop Curry's sermon was about the power of love, quoting Martin Luther King Jr. He spoke passionately about love, American slavery, and equality.
Bishop Curry's sermon was described as "fire" and lit up social media. Many observers were surprised and delighted by the energetic and passionate message. However, some members of the royal family looked bemused, while others laughed and nodded.
