Justin Welby ‘joyful’ at C of E switch but will not bless same-sex civil marriages

Archbishop of Canterbury’s position differs from that of archbishop of York, who says he will offer personal blessing

The archbishop of Canterbury will not personally bless same-sex civil marriages despite the Church of England’s historic change of position.

Justin Welby said he was “extremely joyful” at proposals to allow clergy to offer God’s blessing to same sex couples who have legally married, but said he would impose a “self-denying ordinance” for the sake of unity in the global Anglican church that he heads.