The first same-sex Jewish partnership ceremony officially to be termed a marriage by Liberal Judaism - a major British progressive strand of the religion - took place in Manchester last weekend.

The first same-sex Jewish partnership ceremony officially to be termed a marriage by Liberal Judaism - a major British progressive strand of the religion - took place in Manchester last weekend.

Senior clergy in the Church of England called today to lift the ban on gay couples having civil partnerships in church. They said that it was inconsistent and discriminatory to ban gay couples having their ceremonies in churches willing to accommodate them.

Senior clergy in the Church of England called today to lift the ban on gay couples having civil partnerships in church. They said that it was inconsistent and discriminatory to ban gay couples having their ceremonies in churches willing to accommodate them.

The government has agreed to consider allowing civil partnerships to be held in religious premises after a debate in the House of Lords last night.

The government has agreed to consider allowing civil partnerships to be held in religious premises after a debate in the House of Lords last night.