The Church of England’s move to allow prayers of blessing for same-sex couples in regular services has drawn sharp criticism from conservative Anglicans, who say the policy change goes beyond what historic teaching and previous agreements in the denomination can bear.
After a lengthy “Living in Love and Faith” (LLF) process on sexuality and relationships, the Church’s bishops announced in early 2023 that they would develop a set of resources called Prayers of Love and Faith to affirm and celebrate same-sex couples without changing the doctrine of marriage. In February 2023, the General Synod backed proposals allowing services with prayers of dedication, thanksgiving and God’s blessing for couples who had already entered a civil marriage or partnership, while maintaining that Holy Matrimony is reserved for one man and one woman.
On 12 December 2023, the House of Bishops formally commended the final texts of Prayers of Love and Faith, making them available for use in regular public worship and private prayer from 17 December. Official guidance from the Church of England stresses that these prayers are not a marriage service, must not use authorised marriage liturgy, and do not equate same-sex relationships with Holy Matrimony, but instead offer thanksgiving, dedication and requests for God’s blessing on committed relationships.
An autumn 2024 LLF update reiterates that the prayers arose from a seven-year period of listening and discernment and confirms that they are intended to provide pastoral support where no previous provision existed for same-sex couples. The document also emphasises that clergy are given a measure of discretion in how, or whether, to use the prayers, and that the Church’s formal doctrine of marriage remains unchanged, even as pastoral practice adapts.
In February 2026, the General Synod went on to abandon proposals for stand‑alone blessing services specifically for same-sex couples, citing theological and legal obstacles, while leaving in place the option to use Prayers of Love and Faith within ordinary church services. The Synod instead endorsed plans for a Relationships, Sexuality and Gender Working Group and a parallel Pastoral Consultative Group to continue examining questions around same-sex relationships and marriage, extending the LLF process rather than bringing it to a definitive conclusion.
Canon Chris Sugden, chair of the conservative network Anglican Mainstream, has emerged as one of the most prominent UK critics of the new prayers, describing the Church’s decision to bless same-sex relationships as “a bridge too far” in comments reported by Christian Today. Sugden argues that commending liturgical prayers which publicly bless same-sex partnerships undermines the Church’s official teaching that sexual intimacy belongs within marriage between a man and a woman, and risks deepening existing tensions within the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion.
Church leaders who support Prayers of Love and Faith contend in official statements and guidance documents that they represent a compassionate pastoral response to the realities faced by LGBT Anglicans, not a doctrinal revolution. They maintain that offering prayers of thanksgiving and blessing for couples who have made a civil commitment reflects an attempt to hold together divergent convictions in the same church, even as further work on relationships, sexuality and gender is set to continue through the new working groups and future meetings of the General Synod.