Royal wedding effect: Preachers to lead Anglican Church services

One month after Bishop Michael Curry stole the show with his passionate sermon at Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding, the Church of England has announced it will share services and preachers with black-majority churches.

The Most Reverend Michael Curry became an overnight sensation thanks to his 12-minute speech at the royal wedding on May 19, particularly due to the bizarre reactions it triggered amongst the British royal family and wedding guests who looked visibly stunned by the preacher’s deliverance.

And it now seems that the UK could be set to see more of this style of preaching as the Church of England revealed it will create links with churches in black communities that share Bishop Curry’s style of sermon.

Read more: US Bishop Michael Curry unexpected star of Harry and Meghan’s wedding.

The move – which has been dubbed ‘the Michael Curry effect’ – is set to be debated next month and would see the Anglican Church relax its long-standing rules about what links parishes can make with other churches.

William Nye, general secretary to the Church of England’s ruling general synod, told Christian Today: “A lot of the life of Christianity in England is in Pentecostal churches, black-led, black majority churches. This is a framework to make it easier for parishes to work with what is the fastest growing expression of Christianity in England; to welcome them, celebrate them, work in partnership with them and learn from them.”

Historically, only ministers from a set list of national churches can lead prayers, preach or perform marriages in Church of England buildings. But the change will mean bishops can approve ministers from other churches, including newer independent evangelical, Pentecostal and charismatic groups, to lead services.

Rev Dr Joe Aldred, a Pentecostal representative on the Church of England’s synod, also told Christian Today: ‘This is a great moment for relations between the Church of England and Pentecostal and charismatic denominations and congregations, including many black-led churches, as we share the task of building the Kingdom of God in this country.”

Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, praised Curry, who is the head of the Anglican church in America, for “blowing the place open” with his enthusiastic sermon as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex tied the knot in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor.

Read more: American Bishop to speak at Harry and Meghan’s wedding.

Welby, who officiated the service, said: “I think what we saw in that is that preaching is not a past art, that the use of language to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ just blew the place open. It was fantastic. And you could see people just caught up in it, and excited by it.”

What do you think? Did you enjoy Michael Curry’s unique and passionate style of deliverance?