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Earl banned from holding weddings at his 600-year-old castle for refusing to allow a gay marriage
Last updated at 11:17am on 30.05.08
An Earl has been banned from holding weddings at his 600-year-old castle after refusing to allow a gay marriage.
The Earl of Devon, Hugh Courtenay, has had the licence to hold civil ceremonies at Powderham Castle near Exeter revoked by Devon County Council.
It is thought to be the first case of its kind in the country since the introduction of civil partnerships last year.
The council acted in response to a complaint from a gay couple from London who tried to book the castle for their own partnership ceremony.
The Earl of Devon, Lord Courtenay refuses to let a gay couple marry at Powderham Castle
The case was taken up by gay pressure group Stonewall and now the Earl has been told his licence has been revoked because of discrimination.
Devon County Council withdrew the licence because Lord Devon was in breach of the Sexual Orientation regulations of the Equality Act 2007.
The gay couple whose wedding was refused by the Earl say his decision was discrimination and they are delighted at the revocation.
Copyright consultant Bernard Horrocks, 40, and his partner Glenn Sontag, 35, have now booked a new ceremony elsewhere. Couples already booked for weddings this summer and autumn will not be affected because the licence will be revoked on January 1, 2009.
Bernard Horrocks and Glenn Sontag have had to rearrange their ceremony
Mr Courtenay is the 18th Earl of Devon with a title going back to 1553. He says he is a devout Christian and is acting out of faith.
The Earl said: 'I have to follow my religion in this case. The question has never arisen here before but I suppose I knew it would at some time.
'Now it has, then this is the way it has to be. I have no option. As a Christian I have to object to this.'
A spokesman for Devon County Council said: 'The decision by this venue to refuse to accept some civil partnership ceremonies has left us no option but to revoke the licence.
'We are very conscious there are already ceremonies booked over the coming months and it would cause disruption if these were cancelled.
'Our registration service has not received notification of any ceremonies after January 1 and so this is the date on which the licence will be cancelled."
Mr Horrocks said: 'This has been a distressing time but I would like to thank Devon County Council for its quick and decisive action.
'Happily we have already booked an alternative venue in Devon which has made us welcome. The decision by Powderham was outrageous.'
Stonewall executive officer Ben Summerskill said: 'If you open your premises to the public it should mean all of the public.
'The county council have made the right decision and we hope in the fullness of time Lord Devon will come into the 21st century.'
Reader views (14)
The very fact he allows people to marry with a civil ceremony in the first place means he is allowing couples to marry on his premises outside of the scope of his religion. Divorcees and people with children for example get married at Powderham all the time. In fact plenty of people who could not easily arrange to marry in a church if they wanted to. So the fact that he does not discriminate against the rest of them but does against this couple because they are the same sex is very inconsistent and a huge moral oversight.
- Karen, Exeter
As a Christian I am very proud of the Earl of Devon. He was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ which has the power to save people from eternal damnation. In these times when men are viewed as weak, it is refreshing to see someone who has convictions. Homosexuality is a sin that needs to be repented of, just like any sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman. God, who created us said so, and He knows what is best for us. Now some confuse civil rights with homosexuality. Being black is not a sin, but homosexuality is. I know personally people who have come out of that lifestyle, repented and now live a holy life before God. It is possible. I pray for all people trapped in sexual sin, it's not easy, but with God all things are possible. So again I say bravo Earl of Devon. Keep the faith and let your light shine!
- Jeanine Jemmott-Branch, NJ, USA
I am sure I remember that one of the young heirs to the Courtney Earldom of Devon got caught up in some eighteenth century gay scandal which led either to banishment or some brazen living out the notoriety. The present Earl, whichever branch of the Christian religion he thinks causes him the present problem, is I think quietly brushing a large and well documented chunk of his family history well under the carpet.
- Kelly, Plymouth UK
The problem with this ruling is that it can be used to extend to other places, as well. Should a Christian church or Muslim mosque now be required to marry a gay couple in their sanctuaries or else lose the right to marry people altogether? As with any group of people, there will be someone who will use this as a avenue to marginalize all who disagree with their point of view on this issue. Someone will see this as an opportunity and start trying to book at Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and any other site that would typically disagree with their choice to live a homosexual lifestyle.
Also, please stop relating sexual orientation to race. There is no scientific consensus that sexual orientation is genetic.
- Brandon, US
So he is discriminating because he is a Christian and practising his faith. But if he were are Hindu, Sikh, Muslim........ and decided not to allow a festival/ceremony (of any kind) then that would be ok!!
- Nick, London, UK
Good on Devon County Council in revoking his license, discrimination laws are there for a purpose, what if next time he refused to let a couple get married on the grounds of being of a different race. If you give way to one type of discrimination you will open the floodgates for all types of discrimination.
- Kuldip, London, UK
The reason the state is 'able to dictate' at a privately owned castle is because the Earl is performing a public service on behalf of the State (and also financially benefiting as a result of it) and it is immaterial that the actual building is privately owned.
- Andy, London
You guys are missing the point. Discrimination is discrimination. Would you all think the same if he refused a black couple?
- Phillip, London
An absolutely astounding example of political correctness gone mad. Business people have a right to choose who they do business with. I expect the Earl inflamed the situation by making a point of saying why he chose not to host the ceremony, which has led to this loss of opportunity to host further weddings - but then again he was making a stand for his religion - while the couple were making a stand for their rights. So no individual's really done anything wrong. However, it's a shame to see yet another example of PC legislation taking away choices from individuals. Time to see the end of Labour, I think...
- Emily, Worthing, UK
Ten out of ten for the Earl in standing up for his convictions and placing conscience above making money. It's notable that he is not foisting his view on anyone, merely using his own property as he sees fit.
How typical of the anti-libertarian stance of this Government in forcing its 'totalitolerance' on the rest of us.
- freddie, London
He is not a clergyman with a conscience. It looks as though he is does it for the money & he should adhere to the current human rights requirement.
- Jon, London
It's crazy that a private business cannot choose who to do business with, particularly when Christian views are so much at odds with PC nu-labour laws. As far as I'm concerned gay couples are welcome to do what they want, but I fully respect anyone who doesn't want to participate.
Ironically, the couple had the freedom to get married in many other places, but they have taken away the freedom of Lord Devon to run his business in line with his Christian values.
- Chris, London
This is ludicrous. This castle belongs to the Earl, why should the state be able to dictate whether he can hold wedding ceremonies for everyone based on the fact that he objects to homosexual partnerships? It's his right to decide who books with him for a wedding on his property. So what if he objects to certain groups, why should the rest of humanity be denied the opportunity to wed there? This is political correctness gone mad.
- Huw Morgan, London
While I acknowledge that Mr Courtney has broken the law, and I do not agree with his hard line stance, I hear the sincerity of his Christian conviction and respect the value he places on his faith.
Quite a contrast with Peter Phillips's new wife, who recently wasted no time in renouncing her Catholicism in order to marry the queen's grandson in a 'royal' ceremony.
- Ben, London
