Canterbury Cathedral dean to consider same-sex blessings

The Dean of Canterbury said a decision on offering blessings for same-sex couples at the city's cathedral will be made in the new year.

It comes after the Church of England approved the blessings, with the first taking place last weekend.

The Very Rev Dr David Monteith said it was a "sadness" not to have a church blessing after his civil partnership.

He will decide on blessings at Canterbury Cathedral after consulting with stakeholders.

Dean Monteith said he was "delighted" the Church of England's confirmed the move to allow blessings.

He said: "It is complex and we are kind of in a new situation, although LGBT people haven't just fallen from heaven. We have always been here."

Each church will choose how to respond to the Church of England decision.

Of his own civil partnership, Dean Monteith said: "When we had our celebration, we couldn't come in to church and have prayers and that was a great sadness to us.

"So I am pleased now personally that that will now be available to other people."

Dean Monteith took up the role a year ago in Canterbury, which he described as the mother church for 80 million Anglicans.

He said the cathedral would continue its journey of "opening up and opening out" to the community.

Dean Monteith added: "We have a story to tell for everybody who lives in this land but we have an international audience as well.

"Locally, nationally and internationally, we are going to be relating in new and fresh ways."

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