Richard Kirker
He was born and grew up in Nigeria, educated in England, and studied at a theological college in Salisbury where he met his first partner, Michael Harding. Following service in Millbrook, Southampton, he moved to St Albans where he was ordained deacon and worked as a curate in the diocese. The bishop, Robert Runcie (later Archbishop of Canterbury) was privately supportive of his relationship, but sacked him because he was being too open about his homosexuality, by joining gay organisations and writing to the papers about the Church's position on gay rights.[2]
In 1984 Customs and Excise attempted to prosecute him for importing obscene materials, but backed down following an outcry from the gay community. In 1998 a Nigerian bishop laid hands on him on television in attempt to "exorcise" the demons of homosexuality.[2]
Since leaving LGCM in 2008 he has started a new business selling holiday accommodation in Morocco and France.[3]
In 2018 Richard Kirker was interviewed by the Y-Services 'Voices for Heritage' LGBT History Project [4].
External links
- http://www.richardkirker.com/ Richard Kirker Holiday Villas
References
- ↑ http://www.lgbtran.org/Profile.aspx?ID=53 LGBT Religious Archives Network
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.newstatesman.com/life-and-society/2008/01/gay-kirker-church-bishop Simon Edge, "The Church's true colours", New Statesman 10 January 2008
- ↑ http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2008/07/15/fighting-clergymans-new-life-as-a-holiday-host/ "Campaigning clergyman’s new life as a holiday host" Pink News 15 2uly 2008
- ↑ this is one of 18 interviews deposited by the project into the Wessex Film and Sound Archive at Hampshire Record Office
