As churches in the UK celebrate National Marriage week, a 71 year old Anglican Priest has announced that he is to finally tie the knot after a 53 year engagement. Richard Nolan will marry his long term partner Robert, later this year.
The wedding will take place at Trinity College, Hartford in the US in June, shortly after they celebrate their 72nd birthdays.
The twenty minute service will take place in the College chapel, where the officiant will be a UCC minister.
Two Episcopal priests will assist, but not technically officiate.
““We saw the College President last night at a Palm Beach alumni gathering” Richard Nolan told Ekklesia.
“He and his colleagues are very enthusiastic about our ceremony and plan to be on hand. He had quipped that our 53 year engagement period has been unusually long.”
The ceremony will take place during their 50th Class Reunion at the College where their life as a couple began in the Autumn of 1955. Richard and Robert met at an orientation picnic.
For most of their life they lived a quiet life in Connecticut in a home that was divided into two apartments and had separate mailboxes to keep the neighbours from suspecting anything.
Because Rich was an Episcopal priest and Robert was a high school maths teacher, both of them worried what would happen to their careers if they were found out.
On Sundays, they drove separate cars to church.
They now live in West Palm Beach.
The couple have said that they will keep the wedding service simple with a traditional, liturgical format, no invitations, no gifts, and ‘comfortable attire’.
You can find out more about Dick and Bob on their web site here+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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(Source: Ekklesia)