Reverend Andrew Dotchin, of St John the Baptist Church, in Felixstowe, speaks on Catherine Bond and Jane Pearce’s same-sex blessing last weekend, which was among the first in the country
A vicar who bestowed one of the first blessings on a same-sex couple in the UK has spoken of the ‘wonderful and exhilarating’ day, and how it would be ‘amazing’ for the Church of England to go further.
Reverend Andrew Dotchin, of St John the Baptist Church, in Felixstowe, officiated the ceremony on Sunday (December 17), where Catherine Bond and Jane Pearce received the new Prayers of Love and Faith.
It was among the first such services to include the new prayers, which are a selection of readings and prayers of thanksgiving, dedication and asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples.
They were sanctioned for use by the House of Bishops just days ago and were able to be given out from December 17.
Rev Dotchin said: “Catherine and Jane are extremely valued members of our Parish, and last Sunday we were able to bless them particularly, which was lovely.
“It was wonderful and exhilarating, and Catherine said it was healing; I say it was the day the Church of England came out of the closet.
“We’ve had LGBTQ+ Christians helping our parishes for generations – it’s not a case of us and them, and this is a way of saying thank you for your faithfulness and let’s go forward together, rejoicing that this is good that you love each other and your love strengthens our community.”
Rev Dotchin is in his eighth year in this Parish, after previously spending 25 years in South Africa. He has lifelong connections with Suffolk having studied at the Royal Hospital School in Holbrook, near Ipswich, from 1967 to 1974. He returned to the Church of England in Suffolk in 2000 and aims to spend the rest of his years in the County.
Catherine and Jane are both associate priests in the parish, and regularly lead worship.
St John the Baptist Church has a history of support for the community, flying the pride flag most days of the week, as well as having the ashes of Nik Moore, one of three people that died in the Admiral Duncan bombing in 1999, buried in its grounds.
After the ceremony, whilst it was recognised as a momentous occasion for the LGBTQ+ community, questions were asked of whether it was enough, and that the Church of England needs to move forward and allow equal marriage.
On this Rev Dotchin said: “I hope that it will come; at the moment I am thankful for where we are and we will do all we can from where we are
“If you want the Church’s message of love to spread, maybe we can open the gates a little wider – equal marriage in church would be amazing.
“Our congregation is growing because of our open stance, here everyone has a place.”
The General Synod, known as the Church of England’s Parliament, of which Rev Dotchin is a member, voted in favour of offering blessings to same-sex couples in civil partnerships and marriages for the first time in February.
It came after a near eight-hour debate across two days.
On Tuesday, December 12, the House of Bishops met online to confirm its earlier decision to commend the prayers for use in regular public worship such as Sunday Eucharist or Evensong, agreeing it should take effect this weekend.
The motion was passed by 24 votes to 11, with three abstentions.
