The Royal wedding was business as usual … and then the Reverend Michael Curry showed up (original) (raw)

African-American bishop Michael Curry electrified the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with a 14-minute, barnstorming sermon on the power of love that won smiles but also some quizzical glances among the guests gathered in the ancient chapel.

Reverend Curry, the first black head of the Episcopal Church in the United States, started by quoting civil rights hero Dr Martin Luther King and powered on, citing spirituals, medieval poetry and the experiences of slaves in the American South.

"There's power in love. Do not underestimate it. Anyone who has ever fallen in love knows what I mean," he said at the start of an address that jolted the congregation after a period of serene choral and classical music.

"Now, the power of love is demonstrated by the fact that we're all here. Two young people fell in love and we all showed up!"

By the end, he was referring to the newly dubbed Duke and Duchess of Sussex as "my brother, my sister," and telling them "God love you, God bless you" before the opening notes of the soul standard Stand By Me started up.

Harry and Meghan could be seen exchanging glances during the address and at one point the Duke could be seen wiping his forehead.

The Queen and Prince Philip remained impassive throughout, but the reaction from some younger members of the Royal family was less restrained.

But the reaction online — especially from American commentators — was mainly positive.

"Quoting Dr. Martin Luther King from the altar of a British royal wedding. This sermon by Rev Michael Bruce Curry is very American, very boisterous, very passionate. Love it," said New York Times reporter Katie Rosman on Twitter.

Karen Attiah, Global Opinions Editor of the Washington Post, called the whole wedding "an overt celebration of black American culture".

"I wrote back in the fall that I didn't think Meghan (Markle) was going to be very outspoken about race once she married into the royal family. Maybe she will prove me wrong?," Attiah tweeted.

Barely glancing at the transcript of his speech on a tablet computer in front of him, Reverend Curry talked directly to a congregation that also included celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Elton John and David Beckham.

He told them that love was not just for married couples, but part of God's plan, with the power to change lives.

"Dr King was right. We must discover love, the redemptive power of love, and when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world," he said in hushed tones, grasping the lectern.

"Imagine our neighbourhoods and communities when love is the way. Imagine our governments and countries when love is the way," he said in a rare nod to politics in a highly orchestrated British state occasion.

The Episcopal Church — the US arm of the Anglican Communion which also includes the Church of England, headed by the Queen — has taken a strongly liberal stand on social issues including gay marriage, which it allows.

Reverend Curry was born in Chicago in 1953 and went on to become the bishop of North Carolina.

At his installation at the head if the Episcopal church in 2015, he called for economic and racial unity at a time of rising racial tensions.

In 2016 he said he lamented the decision by the wider Anglican Communion to slap sanctions on the US church over its support of gay marriage.

ABC/wires