They walked together towards the altar in a show of unity.
Police said the 18-year-old ran towards the altar of the packed church but the explosives in his backpack only burned, not fully exploding.
In the 50s, at the birth of sitcom, Whitfield was the eternal fiancée Eth, coaxing her dozy Ron Glum towards the altar in radio's Take It From Here.
When a child toddles up towards the altar for a better view of the action, a frisson of uncertainty pervades the congregation.
Now, I'm not arguing that you should ignore your feelings and still head towards the altar if you have a nagging sense that this just isn't right.
The procession moved slowly along the aisles, singing a capella as it shuffled towards the altar.
Cathedral is composed of postcards looking down the aisle of numerous cathedrals towards the altar and rose window above.
After the bells stop sounding through the surrounding streets, clergy in birettas and purple robes process through air thick with incense towards the altar.
The latest to join them is Giambattista Valli, who already had a reputation for stunning "event" dresses – the handful of full-length white numbers that ended his spring/summer 2009 show signalled a move towards the altar.
Since Markle's father could not be there, commentators were speculating that, by arranging for Prince Charles to accompany her towards the altar, the royal family were making a statement of their acceptance of the newest family member.
Julian Spalding, an art critic and former director of some of the UK's leading museums, argues that the stones were foundations for a vast platform, long since lost – "a great altar" raised up high towards the heavens and able to support the weight of hundreds of worshippers.
