Same-sex weddings permitted in NI churches from today

A church minister has welcomed a law change allowing same-sex couples to marry in religious ceremonies in Northern Ireland.
By Niall Deeney
Published 1st Sep 2020, 07:00 BST
Robyn Peoples and Sharni Edwards were the first couple to have a same sex marriage ceremony in Northern Ireland. Pic Colm Lenaghan/PacemakerRobyn Peoples and Sharni Edwards were the first couple to have a same sex marriage ceremony in Northern Ireland. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
Robyn Peoples and Sharni Edwards were the first couple to have a same sex marriage ceremony in Northern Ireland. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

From today, same-sex couples will be able to register to marry in a religious setting, and religious bodies can choose to opt in to provide same-sex weddings. Rev Chris Hudson, minister of All Souls Church in Belfast and a member of the non-subscribing Presbyterian church of Ireland, described the change as “great news” and said he has already been speaking to “a number of couples” who have been waiting for their big day.

With a statutory 28-day waiting period, the earliest date for a same-sex religious wedding will be September 29.

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Rev Hudson said: “This is great news for couples who wish to celebrate their marriage in church, embraced by family, friends and the love of God.

“I have already been speaking to a number of couples who have been waiting for this day so they can finally have the church wedding that they have longed for.”

Amnesty International, a prominent voice in the campaign for same-sex marriage to be permitted in Northern Ireland, has also welcomed the law-change.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland director and part of the Love Equality coalition, said: “Today is a milestone for equality in Northern Ireland.

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“After years of campaigning, same-sex couples of faith can finally register to marry in a church or other religious setting.

“In line with our campaign, we are pleased that the law will protect religious freedom, and that churches will neither be compelled nor prevented from offering wedding ceremonies to same-sex couples.”

He continued: “This is an important issue for many couples in Northern Ireland, who have previously been prevented by law from marrying in their own church.”

Amnesty International say there are 1,200 same-sex couples in NI with civil partnerships.

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The organisation is now campaigning for those couples to be allowed to ‘convert’ the civil partnerships to marriages.

Mr Corrigan said: “We now urge the government to finish the job of marriage equality in Northern Ireland, by allowing couples in civil partnerships to convert to married status if they so wish.”

Same-sex marriage became legal in Northern Ireland for the first time in January this year, with the first same-sex wedding happening in

Related topics:Northern IrelandBelfast