Gay couple’s anger after church refuses to bless their marriage
Lisa and Janie Davey-Collins speak of their dismay after snub from the Anglican church
A FURIOUS lesbian couple have accused the church of discrimination after it refused to bless their marriage - less than a month before a party to celebrate their big day.
Lisa and Janie Davey-Collins married at their local registry office in March and planned a celebration for friends and family in the garden of their Cornwall home.
But they have now been told that their local church has refused to acknowledge their ceremony.
The angry couple were told that Reverend Heather Aston would not attend the event in Manacca even if she is not wearing her dog collar.
The Diocese of Truro told them that law changes on same sex marriages did not apply to the Anglican church.
But Lisa, 54, said she and Janie, 35, are dismayed and distraught that their plans had been ruined.
And they accused the church of discriminating against gay people.
Lisa said: "We really are both very upset by it.
"I've been brought up with the church in my life and Janie attends a church in Redruth.
"We are already married and we wanted the religious side of it as well. I wanted the blessing of the lord.
"I think this is discrimination. We can go to the local church and attend services but our marriage can't be blessed there.
"I really don't understand it. I went to gay wedding in London about 15 years ago at a church."
A spokesman for the Diocese of Truro said changes to the law on same-sex marriages in 2013 specifically excluded weddings in Anglican churches.
He said: "Around this time pastoral guidance was issued by the House of Bishops of the Church of England, which clearly stated that services of blessing should not be provided by members of the clergy."
He said this was the first time that Reverend Aston had received a request for a blessing of this kind.
The spokesman added: "She felt it was important to establish the exact position of the church before responding. However, she was clear from the outset that she would not personally be able to conduct the service."
Reverend Aston said she does not personally know the couple and they are not regular worshippers at her church.
She said: "I am sorry I wasn't able to be more definite from the outset. I did want to speak to them and explain properly, and in the intervening period I had given considerable thought to them and had some suggestions for lovely material they might like to use at their service.
"I would be very happy to pray with the family and offer pastoral support, but am not able to offer a public and formal blessing."
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