The straitjacketed Church of England can learn from the inspirational royal wedding sermon

sir – I was very impressed with the inspirational sermon preached by the presiding bishop of the US Episcopal Church, the Most Reverend Michael Curry, at Saturday’s royal wedding ceremony. I only wish that many of our own Anglican clergy and bishops were as enthusiastic and passionate in their addresses.

Bishop Curry gave the listeners a challenging message that came from the heart of a deeply spiritual man who really believes in the teaching of Christ as a powerful way to transform society through love. He would not have been out of place in a Pentecostal church setting, and this is why denominations such as these are thriving today.

The Church of England needs to move out of its straitjacket rituals. It needs clergy and laity who are committed to their faith and not afraid to speak out because it might cause upset or be too challenging. Bring on more of the passionate preaching. Paul Harris

Penparc, Ceredigion

sir – Bishop Curry needs a global role. He is too inspiring to be kept in one country. Jeremy Mallin

Solihull

sir – With all the amazing outfits, uniforms and clerical garb worn at the royal wedding, why did the Archbishop of Canterbury think it appropriate to wear one of those PVC clerical collars that looks as if it has been cut from a bottle of washing-up liquid? Kenneth Preston

Hillsborough, Co Down

sir – The concept of “giving the bride away” in marriage (Comment, May 16) is often seen as distasteful in the modern age.

In fact, however, the bride’s supporter in a traditional wedding is asked to give her hand to the priest, who at this point stands in the place of God. The priest then passes the bride’s hand to the groom.

The belief that we are therefore given to each other by God is not only fundamental to marriage but also positively to be embraced. Canon Philip Norwood

Leicester

sir – Am I alone in my astonishment that a commentator for BBC television should describe Prince Harry’s decision to wear a wedding ring as “very modern”? David Askew

Woking, Surrey

sir – A new salute is clearly apparent on royal occasions: a veritable forest of arms, held up at an angle, all holding a camera-enabled mobile phone. Shirley Puckett

Tenterden, Kent

sir – While the BBC’S coverage of the actual wedding was up to the usual high standard, I found some of the interviews on Radio Four out of place.

I understand that the BBC will cite a duty to offer “balanced reporting”. However, I heard from republicans that Harry will never have to get a mortgage or get a job. There was no mention of his service in Afghanistan or charity work. I also heard from black activists that the new Duchess of Sussex is too pale and has straight hair and is therefore not a role model for young “people of colour”.

None of these mean-spirited people bothered to give their best wishes to the happy couple. Philip Samengo-turner

Cirencester, Gloucestershire

sir – Like many others, I watched the royal wedding mainly to admire the superb musicians taking part.

Britain’s high-quality music-making is the envy of the world, especially in the fields of church and military music. Education policymakers should realise that, by sidelining music in our schools, in less than a generation we may have nothing left to admire. Musicians of the quality seen and heard on Saturday do not magically appear from nowhere. Susan Keeling

Welling, Kent