Gay priest quits Church of England to marry partner
A gay priest in the Church of England has quit in order to marry his partner.
Reverend Clive Larsen, 60, left on Friday and has plans to marry his partner John tomorrow (July 25).
The pair celebrated their upcoming marriage at Larsen’s former church in North Reddish yesterday (July 23).
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Larsen reveals that he would have been disciplined by the Church if he married while being a priest.
He said, “I am aware of two other clergy who have had [same-sex] marriages and the church has made life very difficult for them.”
Larsen reveals that he planned on quitting the church after marrying John but he received a ‘dynamite’ warning which led to his resignation.
He wanted to leave the church with the opportunity to come back but Larsen now feels that there’s “no way back”.