Same-sex reverend couple first to be blessed by Church of England

Two vicars have become one of the first same-sex couples to be blessed at a Church of England service.

Rev Jane Pearse and Rev Catherine Bond were blessed in a Suffolk church on Sunday, 17 December.

It came a few days after the Church of England announced same-sex couples could be blessed after nearly seven years of a process of listening and discernment known as Living in Love and Faith.

“I think it’d be an opportunity for us to feel our love and our relationship blessed in this building,” Ms Pearse said.

Ms Bond added: “I feel it’s healing. It’s inclusive. And I’m just really wanting to encourage lots of other gay couples to come forward and know that the Church of England does love them, and come and be blessed.