A HOMOSEXUAL vicar who caused controversy in the Church when he married his partner in a civil ceremony last year is to retire from his position, it was announced yesterday.

The Reverend Christopher Wardale, vicar of Holy Trinity Church in Darlington, will step down in September after his 60th birthday.

Yesterday, clergy and churchgoers revealed Mr Wardale had been planning his retirement for two years, and it had "absolutely nothing" to do with the ceremony on December 21.

The Bishop of Durham, Dr Thomas Wright, has been considering what action to take since Mr Wardale and his partner of 21 years, retired university lecturer Malcolm Macourt, had their union blessed in a Newcastle church.

Dr Wright said at the time that clergy could face disciplinary action if they took part in anything that could be considered a gay wedding.

Mr Wardale will retire on September 30, and will conduct his last Sunday service in the parish on September 24. He made his announcement to Holy Trinity parishioners at the church's annual meeting on Sunday.

Yesterday, Mr Wardale could not be contacted, but the Reverend Linda Peall, the church's curate, said the decision had been made long ago.

"It was made clear to the bishop and the diocese two years ago that he would be retiring, long before his civil partnership to Malcolm," she said. "It is nothing to do with that at all. The two are not connected."

A parishioner said: "Several of us have known for some time that he would retire when he turned 60. It did not come as a surprise."

A spokesman at the Bishop of Durham's office said they were not aware of Mr Wardale's announcement.