Harry and Meghan: Wedding Suggestions and Musings

[Rudolph]

He is random as in they’ve never met him nor do they have ties to him.

At least with the Archbishop of Canterbury there’s a connection. He baptised Meghan and apparently can vouch for her religious epiphany.

I have absolutely no reason why this Bishop has been plucked from Chicago other than for the reasons I’ve already stated.

His address should be interesting.

[Somebody]

Originally Posted by Countessmeout

Meghan's father's family is Episcopalian. I would think it is likely a nod to her side of the family. Its not a matter of a personal connection to the man. Like having the Archbishop of Canterbury do the wedding is more about his roll. Michael Curry is the head of the Episcopalian church.

I like it once again shows that some of Meghan's background is getting in there.

While I really like it that this wedding clearly is about two people and their backgrounds being united, this particular nod is a little odd imo. Why ask the primate of a church you were never a member of to do the sermon while you just joined the CoE (and I am aware they are part of the same Anglican family) and the groom has been a member of that same church all his life.

The gospel choir is a really nice nod to her background (if I understand it correctly the choir is part of her mother's church), this is a very formal nod to a background she formally doesn't have.

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by Rudolph

I wonder why they picked an American episcopal Bishop they don’t know or have ties to, to give the address at the wedding.

Probably because Meghan is American and the Episcopal Church is the Anglican church in the United States.

Michael Curry is actually the current presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church USA.

[Countessmeout]

Originally Posted by Rudolph

He is random as in they’ve never met him nor do they have ties to him.

At least with the Archbishop of Canterbury there’s a connection. He baptised Meghan and apparently can vouch for her religious epiphany.

I have absolutely no reason why this Bishop has been plucked from Chicago other than for the reasons I’ve already stated.

His address should be interesting.

He wasn't plucked....you make him sound like they threw a whole bunch of priest names in a bowl and picked a random one.

He is the leader of the Episcopalian church. Plain and simple.

Why was the archbishop of Canterbury chosen to baptize Meghan??? Random choice or because he was the head of the church???

While I really like it that this wedding clearly is about two people and their backgrounds being united, this particular nod is a little odd imo. Why ask the primate of a church you were never a member of to do the sermon while you just joined the CoE (and I am aware they are part of the same Anglican family) and the groom has been a member of that same church all his life.

Just because she was not baptized, doesn't mean that she has no connection to the church.

Meghan was raised in an Episcopalian family. It is said she went to church with both parents, and her father's family is Episcopalian. One of her uncles is a bishop in the church.

I notice people praise when her AA roots are brought in. But heaven forbid any of her father's roots be considered. She is a mix of both parents.


And the Episcopalian church is the Anglican church of the US. So it is a nod to the fact she is American and Anglican.

[Somebody]

I fully agree with AlowVera and others that this choice wasn't random at all. They picked the primate of the Episcopal church of America, I do think they consider it an added bonus that he is Aftican-American.

Still I think it odd as Meghan was never a member of (t)his church.

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by Somebody

I fully agree with AlowVera and others that this choice wasn't random at all. They picked the primate of the Episcopal church of America, I do think they consider it an added bonus that he is Aftican-American.

Still I think it odd as Meghan was never a member of (t)his church.

All Anglican churches are in full communion, so as a member of the CoE, she is in communion too with the Episcopal Church USA.

[Rudolph]

The Church of England and the BRF are constitutionally linked. Meghan is getting married in a royal peculiar under the jurisdiction of The Queen. CoE Bishops sit in the House of Lords. The Queen is Supreme Governor.

The American episcopal church is in communion with the CoE but that’s it. Yes he’s the leader, but still zero connection to Meghan or her family.

Trying to compare the two is really grasping at straws.

[Zaira]

Originally Posted by Countessmeout

I notice people praise when her AA roots are brought in. But heaven forbid any of her father's roots be considered. She is a mix of both parents.


And the Episcopalian church is the Anglican church of the US. So it is a nod to the fact she is American and Anglican.

I wouldn't say people praise when her AA roots are brought. See the drama around the gospel choir

Some folks have issues with Meghan and/or Harry and thus see anything they do = bad.

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by Rudolph

The Church of England and the BRF are constitutionally linked. Meghan is getting married in a royal peculiar under the jurisdiction of The Queen. CoE Bishops sit in the House of Lords. The Queen is Supreme Governor.

The American episcopal church is in communion with the CoE but that’s it. Yes he’s the leader, but still zero connection to Meghan or her family.

Trying to compare the two is really grasping at straws.

Obviously, Meghan wanted to include American elements in the service. That includes the choice of music and having an American bishop delivering the sermon.

[AlowVera]

Originally Posted by Zaira

I wouldn't say people praise when her AA roots are brought. See the drama around the gospel choir

Some folks have issues with Meghan and/or Harry and thus see anything they do = bad.

It was assumed that Bishop Curry was only picked because he is AA and never took into account that he is on par with the Archbishop of Canterbury. In fact it was Justin Welby who suggested he be the speaker because of his reputation as a great speaker.

Any choice which is related to her AA heritage has been degraded and picked apart.

[kathia_sophia]

I wonder if Harry will go with beard or without. Or maybe he already shave it.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by kathia_sophia

I wonder if Harry will go with beard or without. Or maybe he already shave it.

Why would he do that?

Meghan has only ever known Harry with his beard.

I would have been really upset if my husband had shaved off his mustache for our wedding day!

[JuliannaVictoria]

Originally Posted by O-H Anglophile

Why would he do that?

Meghan has only ever known Harry with his beard.

I would have been really upset if my husband had shaved off his mustache for our wedding day!

Yes, but some people have issues with him in a military uniform sporting a beard. It's not done.

If he's in uniform, I personally would expect him to shave, however, if he doesn't, I can put aside my strict military upbringing and training to allow for this one instance where he's getting married.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by JuliannaVictoria

Yes, but some people have issues with him in a military uniform sporting a beard. It's not done.

If he's in uniform, I personally would expect him to shave, however, if he doesn't, I can put aside my strict military upbringing and training to allow for this one instance where he's getting married.

My understanding that is only true for an Army uniform. It has been stated that the Marine uniform that he is expected to wear allows facial hair.

[Mbruno]

The reason why he was chosen is more or less self-evident and totally uncontroversial IMHO. They wanted the American equivalent of the Anglican church to be represented in the wedding and Michel Curry, as the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church USA (akin to a primate) is the church's official representative.

When Princess Madeleine of Sweden married Chris O'Neill, who is British, there was also a CoE priest co-celebrating the wedding along with the Lutheran Swedish priests, even though Chris himself is Roman Catholic and not Anglican. I see it simply as a nod to the groom's, or, in Meghan's case, the bride's home country.

[Marlo]

Meghan probably visited Bishop Curry during her visit to Chicago?

[Zaira]

The invitation was the suggestion of Canterbury. So folks can stop clutching their pearls.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have invited a pioneering American bishop to deliver the address at their wedding, as the couple strive to reflect their transatlantic relationship amid the tradition of St George’s Chapel.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...rkles-wedding/

The preacher, from Chicago, Illinois, does not have a personal relationship with the couple, but was chosen by them in discussion with the Archbishop of Canterbury.

His inclusion is intended in part to reflect the background of Ms Markle, who is American. The Prince and Ms Markle have been striving to make their wedding day personal, with elements of “fun and joy” mixed in with tradition.

A spokesman for Kensington Palace said of the Prince and Ms Markle’s choice: “The couple and the Archbishop discussed a number of possibilities for a preacher.

"Whilst Bishop Curry is not personally known to the couple, it was felt that given the fact that he the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church as well as a wonderful speaker and preacher, it would be highly appropriate for him to be invited to speak.”

The recommendation from the Archbishop of Canterbury is particularly significant after a near-schism in the Anglican Church around gay marriage, after primates agreed to impose sanctions against the liberal US church.

[JuliannaVictoria]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

The reason why he was chosen is more or less self-evident and totally uncontroversial IMHO. They wanted the American equivalent of the Anglican church to be represented in the wedding and Michel Curry, as the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church USA (akin to a primate) is the church's official representative.

When Princess Madeleine of Sweden married Chris O'Neill, who is British, there was also a CoE priest co-celebrating the wedding along with the Lutheran Swedish priests, even though Chris himself is Roman Catholic and not Anglican. I see it simply as a nod to the groom's, or, in Meghan's case, the bride's home country.

Bolded Area: I actually said as much Mbruno and I agree. However, another poster made the incendiary comment that he was only chosen because "he's black and American."

[Rudolph]

That article only confirms my comment earlier.

[JuliannaVictoria]

Originally Posted by O-H Anglophile

My understanding that is only true for an Army uniform. It has been stated that the Marine uniform that he is expected to wear allows facial hair.

I stand corrected if that's true. I just expect proper protocol regarding facial hair to be the same across the board in Dress Uniform, regardless of the particular branch of the military.

All the same, if he's allowed to have the beard and be in a Marine dress uniform, then I say keep the beard. He's quite dashing with it.