'Marriage' reignites gay clergy row

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Reverend Peter Cowell and the Rev Dr David Lord exchanged vows at St Bartholomew the Great in the City of London last month.

Church of England guidelines say gay clergy can enter a civil partnership if they provide reassurance that they will abstain from sex.

Couples who ask a priest to bless their union must be dealt with "pastorally and sensitively" on an individual basis.

This is the first time a full ceremony has been held for a same sex couple.

Reverend Martin Dudley, who led the ceremony, said he disagrees with the official guidance.

He added: "I was asked by a friend and colleague to bless their civil partnership. I said 'of course I will'.

"Peter is a dear friend and I have gay friends and one respects them for who they are. It seemed perfectly reasonable. I certainly didn't do it to defy my bishop or to make a statement, I did it as a matter of pastoral care for someone for whom I have a very high regard."

Mr Dudley said the traditional marriage liturgy was significantly altered for the occasion, which he described as 'glorious'.

There were around 300 guests, including a number of clergy and Mr Cowell's mother who read the lesson.