Richard Coles

Richard Coles – Life, Career, and Notable Reflections

A rich profile of Richard Coles — English musician-turned-clergyman, broadcaster, and author — tracing his journey from pop stardom to faith, media, and writing, and highlighting his insights and legacy.

Introduction

Richard Keith Robert Coles (born 26 March 1962) is an English musician, writer, broadcaster, and former Church of England priest.

Coles is widely known for being one half of the 1980s pop duo The Communards, which achieved multiple Top 10 hits, including a No. 1 single.

Beyond music, he has carved a varied career in broadcasting, writing, and religious service. His path reflects reinvention, faith, and public engagement.

Early Life and Background

Richard Coles was born in Northampton, England on 26 March 1962.

He was educated as a choirboy at Wellingborough School and studied drama and liberal arts at South Warwickshire College of Further Education in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Later, he studied theology at King’s College London, earning a BA in theology beginning in 1990.

He also gained an MA by research from the University of Leeds in 2005, working on the Greek text of Ephesians.

Music Career

Bronski Beat & The Communards

Richard Coles learned to play saxophone, clarinet, and keyboards before entering the London music scene.

In 1983, he joined Bronski Beat (on saxophone) with Jimmy Somerville.

In 1985, Somerville left Bronski Beat, and Coles and Somerville formed The Communards.

The Communards had three UK Top 10 hits, including their bestselling cover of “Don’t Leave Me This Way”, which held the No. 1 position for four weeks in 1986.

The band was active until about 1988, when it disbanded.

Religious Vocation & Ministry

After his pop career, Coles turned toward religious life. He began formal training for the priesthood at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, around 2003.

He was ordained in 2005 in the Church of England.

His early roles included serving as curate at St Botolph’s Church, Boston, and later at St Paul’s, Knightsbridge, London.

From 2011, he became Vicar of St Mary the Virgin, Finedon (Northamptonshire), a post he held until his retirement from parish duties in 2022.

In April 2022, Coles announced his formal retirement from parish ministry, citing issues including the Church’s direction regarding gay couples.

Though retired, he remains ordained and continues to minister where able.

Broadcasting, Writing & Media Work

Coles has maintained an active presence in media. He has been a radio host, television contributor, and presenter.

From March 2011 until March 2023, he co-hosted BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live.

He has appeared on panel shows such as QI, Would I Lie to You?, Have I Got News for You, and guest-hosted other BBC programs.

He is also a published author of books including memoirs, reflections, and more recently, crime fiction.

Notable works:

• Fathomless Riches: Or How I Went From Pop to Pulpit (2014)

• Bringing in the Sheaves: Wheat and Chaff from My Years as a Priest (2016)

• The Madness of Grief: A Memoir of Love and Loss (2021)

In 2022 he published his first fiction novel, Murder Before Evensong, launching his Canon Clement Mystery series.

He also hosts The Rabbit Hole Detectives podcast with Charles Spencer and Cat Jarman (from 2023 to April 2025).

Personal Life & Identity

Richard Coles came out as gay at age 16.

He entered into a civil partnership with David Oldham in 2010; their partnership was, publicly, celibate at first (a promise he later acknowledged was not strictly kept).

David Coles died in December 2019 of alcoholic liver disease.

In June 2023, Coles announced a new relationship with actor Richard Cant.

He has been open about struggles with mental health, grief, and the journey of reconciling his identity, faith, and public life.

Coles also suffers from tinnitus in his right ear, attributed to years of loud music performance.

Personality & Traits

From interviews and his public persona, these traits emerge:

• Curiosity & reinvention — Coles often describes his life as varied, saying his CV might look “the work of a fantasist.”

• Humility & candor — He openly discusses grief, failures, and the complexities of his life transitions.

• Bridge between secular & sacred — He is comfortable in both pop culture and religious settings, navigating tension and synthesis.

• Communicator & storyteller — Through broadcasting and writing, he conveys ideas with wit, empathy, and accessibility.

• Resilience — Over decades he has adapted from music fame to religious vocation to media and literary pursuits.

Selected Quotes & Reflections

Here are a few notable reflections and statements from Richard Coles, drawn from interviews:

• On his varied life:

  “I think my CV looks like the work of a fantasist, actually. But it did happen, and I don’t know why.”

• On faith and identity (from various reflections):

  He has discussed how his journey to and within the church was shaped by personal loss, questions, and the need for authenticity.

• On grief:

  In speaking about the loss of his husband, he has been candid about how grief unsettles identity and routine.

• On music and noise:

  He has linked his tinnitus to his early years as a musician performing loud pop music.

These quotes hint at a person grappling with life’s contradictions—and doing so in public.

Legacy & Impact

Richard Coles is a rare figure whose life bridges pop culture, faith, media, and literature. His legacy includes:

• Role model in queer and religious life — Someone who did not abandon either identity, but sought to integrate them publicly.

• Cultural translator — He brings religious ideas into popular discourse via media, and brings popular culture into reflective dialogue.

• Multi-disciplinary influence — He is known not just as a musician or priest, but also an author, broadcaster, and public intellectual.

• Voice for grief, transition, authenticity — His willingness to speak about loss, identity, and change has resonated with many.

In the broader sweep of modern British public life, he stands as a singular example of someone eschewing narrow specialization in favor of living a life of layered meanings.

Conclusion

Richard Coles’ life is a tapestry of music, faith, public voice, and personal transformation. From the heights of 1980s pop with The Communards to the quiet pews of parish ministry, and on to the airwaves and bookshelves, he has refused to remain fixed.

His story teaches that identity need not be confined, that reinvention can be an ongoing journey, and that faith and art can inform each other in unexpected ways.