Brighton churches (including HTB plant) ‘supportive’ as city prepares for UK’s largest gay pride march
By Harry Farley, Christian Today:
Tens of thousands are expected to turn out on the seafront in Brighton and Hove for the annual “pride parade” through the town to the festival on Saturday morning.
A number of churches are dotted along the march’s route. While the issue of homosexuality and same-sex marriage is highly controversial in many of Britain’s churches – including the Church of England – the local Anglican Diocese of Chichester has said its churches have “created a range of inclusive events to celebrate” the festival. Some churches are putting theological questions to one side in an effort to be open and welcoming.
A key landmark on the route is the evangelical Anglican church St Peter’s, known as the “cathedral of Brighton”. Vicar Archie Coates told Christian Today he was “very supportive” of the parade and a lot of people in his congregation would be taking part.
“It’s great because it celebrates diversity as much as it celebrates LGBT people,” he said. “In our congregation we have a lot of diversity and a lot of LGBT people and we are very supportive.”
The church was planted by the charistmatic London church Holy Trinity Brompton in 2009 and around 1,000 people attend every Sunday.
ED: Letters of objection may be adddressed to:
The Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, Lambeth Palace, London, SE1 7JU, Tel: 020 7898 1200 (from outside the UK: +44 207 898 1200) Email: contact@lambethpalace.org.uk
The Revd Nicky Gumbel, HTB Brompton Road, London SW7 1JA, Telephone: 0845 644 7533, email
The Revd Archie Coates, St Peter’s Church, York Place, Brighton, BN1 4G, Tel: 01273 698 182, email archie@stpetersbrighton.org or contact@stpetersbrighton.org (office)
The Rt Revd Dr Martin Warner MA PhD. The Palace, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1PY Tel: 01243 782161, email margaret.gibson@chichester.anglican.org (PA)
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