News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Gay-wedding-blurred-main_article_image.jpg
CC
UK News

Revealed: number of gay weddings at churches

Researchers at Leeds and York universities have concluded 182 venues have registered to hold same-sex weddings, while approximately half of those have actually hosted one.

They reported: "Over half of the places of worship that have solemnized a same-sex marriage have done so on only one occasion.

"Nineteen places of worship report that they have solemnized one same-sex marriage, eight report that they have solemnized two same-sex marriages, and four report that they have solemnized three same-sex marriages.

Creative Commons/ David Lud

"Only five places of worship have solemnized four or more same-sex marriages, with the highest number of same-sex marriages solemnized in any place of worship reported as 10."

The academics said the number remains "very small", compared to the 40,000 places of worships currently prohibited from holding same-sex weddings.

Baptists, Lutherans, Unitarians, the United Reformed Church, and other designated religions - included Buddhists - were included in the study.

The academics conclude that same-sex couples wanting to marry in a religious setting face a "significant disadvantage", compared to heterosexual couples.

Study co-author, Dr Silvia Falcetta, from York's Department of Sociology, said: "This report shows that same-sex couples are at a significant disadvantage to different-sex couples, because same-sex couples are more likely to live in an area where there is no scope to be married in a place of worship according to a desired religious ceremony."

The academics also concluded that a move by an individual church to perform gay weddings can create tensions on varying levels.

They found it can strain ties between individual churches and their broader denomination, relationships between a church and its local area and relationships within the church itself.

Performing a same-sex wedding at a church building remains prohibited at Christian denominations including the Church of England and the Church in Wales.

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate