English clergyman banned from officiating services after marrying his partner of 28 years

Jeremy Davies has been refused “permission to officiate” by the bishop of Winchester following his marriage to opera singer Simon McEnery.

Davies retired in 2011 after serving as canon precentor at Salisbury cathedral for 26 years.

10 years ago, he and McEnery entered into a civil partnership – which is permitted for clergy.

However, last year they decided to get married and clergy members are banned from entering into same-sex marriages.

After retiring, Davies continued to take occasional services in the dioceses of Winchester and Salisbury. Following his marriage, he was reprimanded by the bishop of Salisbury.

In June, Davis wrote to Tim Dakin, the bishop of Winchester, seeking permission to officiate. Two days ago he received a letter saying his application had been refused.

A spokesperson for the diocese of Winchester said: “Canon Jeremy Davies made an application earlier this year for permission to officiate (PTO) in the diocese of Winchester. Due to the Church of England’s position on same-sex marriage, as set out in the House of Bishops’ Pastoral Guidance, canon Jeremy Davies has been informed that his application has been unsuccessful.”

Davies said his reaction was one of “resignation and a sense that this was not entirely unexpected”.

He added that the church needed to develop a “coherent theological position on human relationships and sexuality”. “It is moving, but it is taking some time,” he added.

His husband Simon McEnery, said: “I dislike the idea of the church being allowed to discriminate against gay people when it is increasingly outlawed in civil life.”

The church, he added, “ought to be at the forefront of creative thinking but often seems to be on the back foot and chasing its own tail. The C of E is the established church, a sort of state organisation, but it has legitimate institutional homophobia at its heart.”

The couple received many messages of support and offers of help to launch a legal challenge against the decision.

But they have decided against taking legal action.