Same-sex pressure grows

Same-sex marriages (SSMs) are not permitted by the Churches of England, Scotland or Wales – but weakening resistance to change could soon see SSMs permitted in two of them.

The new Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, has reportedly said same-sex weddings could be held in churches in Wales in five years’ time. Speaking following the meeting of the Welsh governing body last month, he told the BBC that the church should be inclusive and ‘welcome people, where they are, who they are’.

Presently, couples can have their civil partnership blessed in the Church of Wales under legislation passed last year. This experimental blessing period will last five years, but speaking at the time, Archbishop John said the change did not go far enough.