Reverend David Coles, the partner of Reverend Richard Coles, has died at the age of 42.
Reverend Richard confirmed on Twitter that David had experienced a long illness, while thanking those who looked after his partner at Kettering General Hospital.
“I’m very sorry to say that @RevDavidColes has died,” Richard wrote. “He had been ill for a while. Thanks to the brilliant teams who looked after him at @KettGeneral.”
He added a quote from Isaiah 60:20 that reads: “The Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.”
The couple, both priests, met one another in 2007 and shared a home in Northamptonshire with their dogs.
The Reverend Richard Coles was the keyboard player in Eighties pop group The Communards and is now vicar of Finedon, Northamptonshire. He is also a TV presenter and competed on the 2017 series of Strictly Come Dancing.
David Coles’ death led to an outpouring of support from stars, including Nigella Lawson, Fern Britton, Simon Mayo and Philip Pullman.
Dianne Buswell, the Reverend's professional partner on Strictly Come Dancing, tweeted: “I am so sorry to hear this. Sending all my love to you rev! My prayers and thoughts are with you.”
