Greenville minister gets mystery email, preaches for King Charles, Queen Camilla in Scotland

Dr. Richard Gibbons of Greenville's First Presbyterian Church had to keep a Royal secret this summer.

In early July, while writing in his prayer journal at Barnes and Nobles on Haywood Road, Gibbons said he received a mysterious email.

It was an invitation asking him to be a guest of King Charles III, HM Queen Camilla and the British Royal Family at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on Sunday, Aug. 20.

It took Gibbons 45 minutes to process what he read.

"Of course, you read it, and you read it again and you read it again," he said. "It's like, this must be a mistake. It can't be to me."

But it was no hoax.

When Gibbons got home, he told his wife, Ruth, "You're going to have to buy a new hat."

When she smiled and asked "Why?" he told her about the surprise invitation. She was stunned. However, the excited couple could not share the confidential news.

"I couldn't tell my family or my congregation," Gibbons said. "And as you can imagine, when you get an invitation like that, you want to tell everyone, but of course you can't. I'm great at keeping other people's secrets, but I'm pretty useless at keeping my own, quite honestly."

How the Greenville minister was selected for this 'special moment'

The current Domestic Chaplain to Queen Camilla is Rev. Ken Mackenzie. When Gibbons previously lived in Inverness, Scotland, he knew Mackenzie through events and email exchanges.

Gibbons, a native of the Scottish Highlands, said the last time he saw Mackenzie was over 30 years ago. However, Mackenzie remembered his friend, who had long-moved across the pond.

He issued the invitation for Gibbons to guest preach at Crathie Kirk Parish Church, which went through King Charles' approval.

On Sunday morning, he finished his sermon with a message about his 2005 heart attack, the moment that eventually led to the Gibbons' move to Greenville in 2007.

"It was pretty dramatic. I had collapsed in the street in Inverness, Scotland in September 2005. I laid in the street with no pulse, and I was unable to breathe," Gibbons said.

When the paramedics arrived, they had to cut Gibbons' shirt and jacket to use a defibrillator.

"On the fourth attempt, they brought me back, but while I was lying there, for all intents and purposes, unable to breathe with no pulse, a congregation here in Greenville were praying for their new pastor. And a year later, we made the move here (to Greenville)," he said.

For Gibbons, who was also recently the Guest Chaplain to the US Senate, preaching at Crathie Kirk Parish Church was a unique experience.

Typically, he preaches in front of 1,500 congregants at First Presbyterian. He is among six pastors at a church with a growing membership of 2,700. Earlier this year, First Presbyterian opened a $34 million new facility and extension to their campus. The historic church now has a new worship and arts center, a gymnasium and a coffee shop.

The rural, Crathie Kirk Parish Church only seats 85 visitors.

"The big thing we're looking for, I think, in any preacher is, to show a measure of authenticity and credibility. As a pastor, you can never be six feet above contradiction because you happen to stand in the pulpit," Gibbons said. "They must see you just like them. They must be able to identify with you."

The Gibbons' meet the Royal Family

After the morning service, Gibbons and his wife drove to Balmoral Castle, where they had drinks at a brief reception with the Royal Family.

For their four-day trip, the couple stayed in the minister and his family's home adjacent to the castle.

Gibbons called the vast Balmoral Castle and Estate "overwhelming and spectacular." Constructed in 1856 during the reign of Queen Victoria, Balmoral now covers an area of approximately 50,000 acres. The 100-room estate is surrounded by moors, forestry and farmland.

However, what really struck Gibbons was King Charles' deep interest in Gibbons' life and Greenville's growth.

Gibbons said King Charles asked about his heart health. He also wanted to know why South Carolina is one of the fastest growing US states.

"He was warm and personable," Gibbons said.

Gibbons also talked to King Charles about his summer vacation and coronation.

He realizes that not every pastor can say they have led a worship service in the presence of the Royal Family. It is a moment he will always cherish.

"I will never be able to do that again." he said. "So there's special moments when the Lord allows you opportunities that you look back on with great thankfulness."

Nina Tran covers trending topics. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville minister gets mystery email, preaches for King Charles, Queen Camilla in Scotland