Mr Wardale, vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Darlington, Co Durham, met Mr Macourt when he worked on South Tyneside in 1984.

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While undertaking his initial training for the ordained ministry he worked at steelworks in Consett, Co Durham, as a labourer in the coke ovens.

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He said that the number of well-wishers who turned up outside the church in the prime minister's Co Durham constituency showed the ceremony was something people "wanted to share".

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