Gay priest considered marrying despite church ban

A gay priest has revealed he considered flouting the church's ban on same-sex weddings, but decided against doing so.

Reverend Dominic McClean, who has already entered into a civil partnership with his partner, is currently facing backlash over plans to hold a ‘thanksgiving’ ceremony in St Peter’s Church in Market Bosworth.

Some parishioners have objected to the church being used – claiming that it contravenes a Church of England ban on same-sex blessings and weddings.

However, Reverend McClean has since told the Telegraph  that he initially planned to marry his partner, but eventually opted to enter into a civil partnership instead.

He said: "We had thought about other alternatives and I would hope in the future that that’s where the Church will be but that’s not where the Church is now.

"It is also a pastoral thing.... I've spoken to some parishioners here who [were] incredibly supportive of what I'm doing here but would not have been so comfortable if I were getting married and I have got to take into account that I am in a rural area here."

At least two clergy have already violated the ban on same-sex couples marrying - hospital chaplain Jeremy Pemberton, and London vicar Andrew Cain.

Jeremy Pemberton began legal proceedings against the Church of England earlier this month, after punitive action as a result of his wedding cost him a job with the NHS.