The CofE and same-sex blessings: What’s happening now

The debate over same-sex marriage and prayers of blessing continue in the Church of England. Tim Wyatt explains what’s being proposed at the upcoming General Synod and what it might mean for Anglicans

The Church of England will soon approve new prayers of blessing for gay couples, its leading bishops have announced. Despite a major conservative backlash since the plans were first unveiled in February, the CofE will mostly press ahead with its plan to allow vicars to formally bless gay relationships in church for the first time. But they have inched back from parts of their initial proposals in the face of legal threats, which has equally infuriated liberals.