A gay couple who were turned down 31 times for a church wedding has finally tied the knot – and say they are ‘overjoyed’. Shane Yerrell, 39, and David Sparrey, 30, from Waltham Abbey, Essex, got married in Wanstead, East London, last month.

The pair had planned to wait to marry but, after a family health issue, decided to forge ahead with the ceremony. They had always wanted a church wedding but claim they were knocked back a staggering 31 times after calling venues. Thankfully, Wanstead United Reformed Church said yes on the 32nd try – and the pair were able to marry in front of family and friends on October 21.

Shane, who is deputy mayor for Waltham Abbey and a councilor for Epping Forest, said: ‘Honestly, I’d all but given up. But when I spoke to [Reverend] Tessa I was literally shouting with joy and jumping round the room. David didn’t believe me.

‘When we met Tessa she said, ‘I can see you love each other, love is love’. It was the most amazing feeling. ‘She said, ‘Everyone deserves to marry the person they love’ – and she’s right. ‘The day was so special. That church was a light at the end of a tunnel. They are so brave and we will always be so grateful to them.

‘It really wasn’t easy but it was more than worth it all. We thought it would never happen. It was like [the churches] were all reading a script – ‘We’d love to, but no’.’ The couple met through a mutual friend in 2014 and were an item by 2016.

Electrical engineer David then proposed on a beach on a family holiday in Crete, and the couple brought the wedding forward by two years. Both men are Christians who attend church every six weeks and were set on the traditions of a church wedding.

Shane said he then spent up to 15 hours on the phone trying to find a venue. The couple say they were rejected 31 times – before Reverend Dr. Tessa Henry-Robsinson said yes. David walked down the aisle first with his mum, Dawn Bond, 56.

And Shane was given away by their mum Maria Markham, 58, and grandmother Iris Markham, 79. More than 100 guests piled into the church to witness the happy union, and an extra 40 joined the party at Waltham Abbey Town Hall.

David said: ‘It was a day I’ll never forget. We were surrounded by so much love on the day. It was the perfect wedding. ‘We were over the moon when the church agreed to marry us. Everything felt complete. I had hoped Shane’s patience and determination would pay off and it did. (SOURCE)