Reverend Colin Coward fell in love with Nigerian model Bobby Egbele after they met at a Christian conference in Togo in 2007. The pair plan to tie the knot in October.A 65-year-old vicar has stunned church bosses by announcing plans to 'marry' his 25-year-old Nigerian male model boyfriend.
Gay Reverend Colin Coward, a priest at St John the Baptist church in Devizes, Wiltshire, is entering into a civil partnership with his boyfriend Bobby Egbele.
But the marriage has caused a stir among Christians because the couple plan to receive a 'blessing' service in church after tying the knot.
Rev Coward has also refused to confirm that he will remain celibate following the union, which is a requirement the Church of England asks of its ordained gay clergy.
Today, Rev Coward, who lives with Bobby in Marston, near Devizes, revealed that he hopes his union sets a 'visible example' to other gay people within the church.
He said: 'My goal is for everyone within the church to feel comfortable with the situation because at the moment the majority of gay Christians marry secretly.
'It is a taboo subject but the church is now under huge pressure to change its stance and that pressure will only increase in the future.
Rev Coward plans to refuse the request that he remain celibate.
'Clearly the blessing is going to be quite a sensitive issue. I know that many people will see it and view it with horror.
'But we are both deeply committed Christians so it would be unthinkable for me not to do it in church and not to do it with the congregation and with all of our friends.
'I hope my wedding will inspire others and set a visible example to the church that we are not afraid.'
Reverend Coward realised he was gay as a teenager and was ordained as a priest in 1976 after giving up his job as an architect.
He came out openly as a gay vicar in 1991 before setting up the international gay and lesbian campaign group Changing Attitudes in 1995
The pair describe themselves as 'deeply committed Christians' and say they are determined to have the church service.
'But we are both deeply committed Christians so it would be unthinkable for me not to do it in church and not to do it with the congregation and with all of our friends.
'I hope my wedding will inspire others and set a visible example to the church that we are not afraid.'
Reverend Coward realised he was gay as a teenager and was ordained as a priest in 1976 after giving up his job as an architect.
He came out openly as a gay vicar in 1991 before setting up the international gay and lesbian campaign group Changing Attitudes in 1995
The pair describe themselves as 'deeply committed Christians' and say they are determined to have the church service.Rev Coward met Bobby in 2007 at a Christian conference in Togo, West Africa, and the pair fell in love before getting engaged earlier this year.
Fashion designer and model Bobby, whose full name is Bobby Ikekhuame Egbele, grew up in Nigeria and runs an online clothing shop Bobafrique, where he models the clothes.
The pair are set to marry on October 9 at the Register Office in Devizes before having a service at St John the Baptist church.
However, the ceremony will be a Communion Eucharist service rather then a blessing, which is forbidden for homosexual couples.
Rev Coward said: 'Churches are not supposed to bless civil partnerships. It can bless almost anything else animals, bombs, battleships, armies going to war but gay couples? No.
'So our church blessing has to be carefully-worded in so far as it does not use the word blessing in the context of the two of us in relationship.'
Rev Coward's boss, the Right Reverend Stephen David Conway, who is the Bishop of Ramsbury, is also expected to ask him to remain celibate - a request he plans to refuse..
Fashion designer and model Bobby, whose full name is Bobby Ikekhuame Egbele, grew up in Nigeria and runs an online clothing shop Bobafrique, where he models the clothes.
The pair are set to marry on October 9 at the Register Office in Devizes before having a service at St John the Baptist church.
However, the ceremony will be a Communion Eucharist service rather then a blessing, which is forbidden for homosexual couples.
Rev Coward said: 'Churches are not supposed to bless civil partnerships. It can bless almost anything else animals, bombs, battleships, armies going to war but gay couples? No.
'So our church blessing has to be carefully-worded in so far as it does not use the word blessing in the context of the two of us in relationship.'
Rev Coward's boss, the Right Reverend Stephen David Conway, who is the Bishop of Ramsbury, is also expected to ask him to remain celibate - a request he plans to refuse..
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