Church of England priests offered officially sanctioned blessings of same-sex partnerships for the first time on Sunday, while maintaining a ban on church weddings for gay couples. The Rev Catherine Bond and the Rev Jane Pearce had their union blessed at St John the Baptist church in Felixstowe, eastern England. The church's national assembly approved the use of prayers of love and faith for the blessings, which can be used in regular church services. The church has also proposed separate services of prayer and dedication for same-sex couples, resembling weddings, but this plan has not yet been formally approved.