Church of England to have dedicated ceremonies for gay couples

Ewan Somerville
Mon, 13 November 2023 

Two men exchange rings on their wedding day... this could soon happen in the Church of England - DGLIMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO

Gay couples will have dedicated Church ceremonies for the first time by Easter, under plans backed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.

The Church of England’s two most senior leaders have publicly supported proposals for standalone same-sex blessing ceremonies, which could pave the way for churches hosting effectively gay weddings in all but name.

It emerged on the first day of a special gathering of General Synod, the Church’s ruling body, which is considering a motion this week on how to implement gay blessings following their approval in a landmark vote in February.


Nine months on, no such blessings have been given amid a dispute between conservative and liberal factions of the Church that is not expected to be settled until 2025.

Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, said the debate was “stretching us to breaking point” and “many of us have arrived at this Synod feeling weary, fearful, confused and even angry about it all”.

He warned of the risk that priests could be sued by parishioners if they deliver traditional Sunday or Evensong services with same-sex blessings embedded, because it could be interpreted as a standalone service which is currently not allowed under Church rules.
Vulnerable to legal challenge

To resolve this, Steven Croft, the Bishop of Oxford, has tabled an amendment to “consider whether some standalone services for same-sex couples could be made available for use, possibly on a trial basis”, which would introduce separate ceremonies solely for gay couples on a temporary basis.

Backing the amendment, Archbishop Cottrell told Synod: “I am concerned that clergy using the commended prayers might find themselves vulnerable to a legal challenge if their use of the prayers looks to someone else to be a standalone service.

“Something that allows standalone services for an experimental period seems to me to be a sensible and pastoral way forward. It gives clergy and parishes who want to use the Prayers of Love and Faith the legal protection they need.”

Clergy and parishes would also “be under no compunction or compulsion to do so”, he said, growing threats of a major split within the Anglican Communion on the issue.

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said he “stand[s] in complete agreement”.

If Synod passes the proposal, the dedicated services could be introduced in certain churches by Easter, but if it were to be rejected the Archbishops could still bring it in. The House of Bishops, one of three houses of Synod, is understood to broadly support it.
Debate has raged

While same-sex blessings were approved earlier this year, debate has raged within the Church over how it aligns with doctrine which still forbids gay marriage, and the ban on clergy entering same-sex civil marriages.

The long-awaited Prayers of Love and Faith for same-sex couples are due to be commended by bishops later this month, allowing them to be used in churches in services such as the Holy Communion, Thanksgiving and in private prayer.

But aside from possible temporary ceremonies which would be in place by Easter if approved at this and the next Synod, same-sex blessings services are not expected to be rolled out more widely across the whole Church until at least 2025 because of technical aspects of Canon law.

Jayne Ozanne, a prominent gay evangelical Christian and member of Synod who previously served on the Government’s LGBT+ Advisory Panel, told The Telegraph: “Whilst I welcome the potential provision of standalone services, I know that what most LGBT+ people want is equal marriage.

‘Typical Church of England fudge’

“This proposal is therefore a typical Church of England fudge, where no one is well served and where LGBT+ people as usual are asked to pay the price.

“I think that many in the Church, indeed in the nation, will be deeply frustrated by the inability of the Church of England to treat LGBT people as equals and to properly celebrate and mark our love.”

It came as Mr Welby called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and demanded that Christians “rebuke” hatred of Jews and Muslims on British streets.

“This bloodshed must cease, hostages must be released, and aid must reach those in Gaza in dire need,” he told Synod.

He said that “the call for a ceasefire is a moral cry that we are hearing from people of many faiths,” adding: “In Christ’s name, we cry out from our hearts: ‘No More. This killing must stop’”.