URC votes to allow churches to hold civil partnerships

THE United Reformed Church (URC) has become the first Christian denomination in the UK to allow the registration of civil partnerships in its churches.

The URC's General Assembly passed a resolution on Saturday, which took effect immediately. 

A statement from the URC said that a "decision about applying to register as a legal place for civil partnerships will be in the hands of each local church meeting". 

It said that it did not know how many URC churches would register.