Church in Wales Makes Blessing of Same-Sex Marriages Permanent

On 16 April 2026, the governing body of the Church in Wales voted to keep, on a permanent basis, a church service for same-sex couples. Put simply, if two women or two men have already entered into a civil marriage or registered civil partnership under state law, a priest may then lead a separate church service blessing that union. This does not mean the church itself will perform the legal marriage ceremony; it is only about a blessing after civil registration. BBC News reported the decision.

The ballot involved 143 members. In each of the three Orders – bishops, clergy, and laity – at least a two-thirds majority in favour was required. Lay members voted 48 to eight with two abstentions; clergy voted 32 to seven with five abstentions; bishops confirmed adoption with no objections. Individual clergy may still decline to offer the blessing.

The Church in Wales has allowed this on a temporary basis since 2021, but that arrangement had been due to expire at the end of 2026. The wording is now to be added to the Book of Common Prayer, making the practice permanent. Before the vote, the church said the change followed a period of “reflection and listening” across the church.

During debate, the Bishop of St Asaph, Gregory Cameron, spoke of “the damage that rejection of our LGBT brothers and sisters in Christ does” and urged the church not to “inflict such pain.” The Bishop of Llandaff, Mary Stallard, supported the change, describing someone close to her who had been in a “dark place” because a “culture of shame” in the church had told them it was “not OK to be gay.” Among opponents, deacon Andy Grimwood said he feared the decision would bring “not unity” but “division.”

BBC notes a divergence from the Church of England, which does not have an equivalent authorised blessing of same-sex marriages. In July 2025, Cherry Vann became Archbishop of Wales – the first woman and the first openly LGBT person in that role.