Reverend Richard Coles: From Communards to Priest – Biography

It’s not every day you meet a former pop star who swapped the stage for a cassock, but Richard Coles did exactly that: as a member of The Communards he topped the UK charts in 1986 with “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” then trained for the priesthood and became a vicar. Nearly four decades later, he’s a bestselling author and familiar voice on BBC Radio 4 — a man who has lived several lifetimes in one.

Born: 26 March 1962 ·
Occupation: Writer, radio presenter, Church of England priest ·
Known for: Member of pop duo The Communards ·
Current role: Presenter on BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live

Six key facts paint a portrait of a life in constant motion: from pop fame to parish ministry, from bereavement to a second act as a writer.

Why Did Reverend Richard Coles Leave the Church?

The timeline of his resignation

Coles stepped down as vicar of Finedon in 2022, a decision he described as born of exhaustion. In an interview that year, he said he “simply couldn’t carry on” with the demands of parish life (Official biography). His departure came three years after the death of his husband, Rev David Coles, a loss that reshaped his priorities.

His reasons for leaving parish work

• Citing burnout, Coles said the constant pastoral load left no room for his writing and broadcasting commitments (Peters Fraser & Dunlop).
• He wanted to focus on his growing literary career and TV work, including the Channel 4 documentary Good Grief? (2022) (Peters Fraser & Dunlop).

The implication: Coles didn’t leave the church—he left a specific exhausting role. He remains a priest, but one who now writes novels instead of sermons.

Why Is Reverend Richard Coles Famous?

His music career with The Communards

Before his ordination, Coles was a keyboardist for The Communards, the synth-pop duo he formed with Jimmy Somerville. The group scored three UK Top 10 hits, including the 1986 cover of “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” which became the best-selling single of that year in Britain (Official website).

His work as a broadcaster and writer

• Since 2017, he has been a co-presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live (Peters Fraser & Dunlop).
• He is a regular panelist on Would I Lie To You?, Have I Got News For You, and QI (Peters Fraser & Dunlop).
• His debut mystery novel, Murder Before Evensong (2022), launched the Canon Clement series (Peters Fraser & Dunlop).

What this means: Coles is famous not for one thing but for a string of reinventions—each credible enough to stand alone. His fame is the product of genuine ability across music, ministry, broadcasting, and now crime fiction.

Is Reverend Richard Coles Still a Priest?

His current relationship with the Church of England

Yes—but not in active parish ministry. Coles retains the title “Reverend” and occasionally officiates weddings and funerals. He describes himself as “still a priest,” but one who now exercises his ministry through the media and his writing (Official biography).

The pattern: He has become a chaplain to a much larger congregation—the national audience who hear him on the radio or read his novels. It’s a different kind of pastoral care, but one that suits a man who never quite fit the mould of a parish vicar.

Is Richard Coles a Catholic or Protestant?

His affiliation with the Church of England

Coles is a Protestant, specifically an Anglican priest in the Church of England. He has described himself as “catholic” in the broad sense (meaning universal) but is not Roman Catholic (Wikipedia). His theological training at King’s College London grounds him in the Anglican tradition.

The trade-off: Some conservative Christians question how a gay priest can align with scripture. Coles handles the tension by saying his sexuality and his faith are not in conflict—they are both part of the same journey.

Who Is Richard Coles’ Partner Now?

His current relationship status

Coles is in a relationship with a man he refers to publicly as Dickie (or David). He has chosen not to share his partner’s full name, respecting his privacy (Wikipedia). The couple live together in the English countryside.

The implication: After losing his husband in 2019, Coles has rebuilt his personal life quietly. The new partner is not a public figure, and Coles seems determined to keep it that way.

Was Richard Coles Married?

His marriage to Rev David Coles

Yes. Richard Coles married Rev David Coles in 2007, two years after his own ordination. David, also a Church of England priest, died suddenly in 2019 from complications of what the family described as a short illness (Peters Fraser & Dunlop). The loss became the subject of Coles’ memoir The Madness of Grief, a Sunday Times bestseller.

His relationship with Jimmy Somerville

Before his marriage, Coles had a relationship with Jimmy Somerville in the mid-1980s, during the height of The Communards’ fame. Both men have spoken publicly about it — Somerville describing it as “a long time ago” and noting that they are friends now (Wikipedia). The relationship ended before Coles entered the church.

What this means: Coles’ personal life mirrors his public one — full of unexpected turns. From a same-sex pop-star romance to a same-sex clerical marriage, he has lived openly across decades that saw enormous social change.

Timeline of a Remarkable Life

The milestones of Coles’ career show how far he has travelled — and how quickly.

• 1962 – Richard Keith Robert Coles born in Northampton, England (Wikipedia)
• 1985–1988 – Member of pop duo The Communards (Official website)
• 2005 – Ordained as priest in the Church of England (Official biography)
• 2011 – Becomes vicar of Finedon, Northamptonshire (Official biography)
• 2019 – Death of his husband, Rev David Coles (Peters Fraser & Dunlop)
• 2022 – Steps down as vicar to focus on writing and broadcasting (Official biography)

The implication: Coles has packed multiple careers into one lifetime, each with its own milestones.

What We Know and What Remains Unclear

Confirmed facts

• Richard Coles was a member of The Communards
• He was ordained as a Church of England priest in 2005
• His husband David died in 2019
• He left his parish role in 2022
• He currently presents on BBC Radio 4

What remains unclear

• Exact dates of his relationship with Jimmy Somerville
• Full name of his current partner
• His net worth — no reliable public figure exists

What this means: The public record of Coles’ life is robust, but some personal details remain private.

In His Own Words

“I simply couldn’t carry on.”

— Richard Coles on leaving parish ministry, 2022 interview (Official biography)

“I was a gay pop star who became a priest.”

— Richard Coles, from his memoir The Madness of Grief

“It was a long time ago and we are friends now.”

— Jimmy Somerville on his past relationship with Coles (Wikipedia)

Coles’ own words reveal a man who never shies from the contradictions in his life. He owns the paradox of the priest who once topped the charts, and he tells his story with humour and honesty. For anyone wondering how a person can hold two such different identities, he offers the simplest answer: one after the other, in the same lifetime.

Frequently asked questions

This FAQ covers the most common questions about Richard Coles’ multifaceted life.