A Reverend has shared her delight at being able to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies at of her churches.
Rev Marie Attwood runs three Methodist churches in Northumberland - Trinity Church in Ashington, Stakeford Methodist Church in Stakeford and St Andrew's and St Mark's in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. All three voted for same-sex marriages and applied for registration to hold them.
The 66-year-old said all three churches have received their registration and can now officiate weddings for LGBTQ+ couples. Rev Marie is now looking forward to conducting her first ever service for two people of the same gender.
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She said: "I have been in ministry 16 years and I have always felt that we should welcome everyone. We all have a right to express our love and get married in god's presence.
"I'm just excited and I want them to know they are welcome to share their love. I just want everyone to know that they are loved. We care about them, we respect them and they are welcome in our churches.
"It's been a long while coming and I'm just thrilled that it's happened. I retire next year and I feel I'm leaving a legacy."
During The Methodist Conference, in June last year, a vote for permitting same-sex marriages was passed. Methodist churches across the country can now register to hold same-sex marriages on their premises. However it is still not allowed in the Church of England or the Roman Catholic Church.
Rev Marie, who lives in Ashington, said: "I'm just so excited that the church is now accepting that everyone has a right to get married.
"It's been difficult in the past, same-sex couples have not been heard in the past by the church, but we want to show that the past is the past. This is the future and we accept them for who they are - beautiful, wonderful individuals.
"I think we have realised that we can't hold on to the past, we have got to live in the future. It's not against the law like it used to be. It's time we came into the 21st century and see love as love.
"When I contacted the general office the lady said to me everything is taking time, they've been inundated with Methodist Churches registering for same sex marriages.
"It's just great, we can actually live up to our name now. We're being inclusive and that's important."
UK law changed in 2014 to allow same-sex couples to marry in civil and religious ceremonies. It enabled people to change their legal gender without having to end their marriage. Civil partners were also able to convert their partnership into a marriage.
Couples who would like to get married at one of the churches can call Rev Marie on 01670 819940.
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