Reverend Richard Coles becomes patron of Kettering Arts Centre

The Reverend Richard Coles is now patron of Kettering Arts Centre, which holds a special place in his family

The Reverend Richard Coles has become the patron of a church where he was christened and where his parents were married.

The celebrity vicar and former musician of The Communards has been given the honour by the Kettering Arts Centre.

He was born in Northamptonshire and has performed at the theatre venue himself, based in St Andrew's Church.

The Reverend Tom Houston, vicar of St Andrew's, said he was "over the moon" when he accepted.

Work started on the renovation of Kettering Arts Centre in January and is due to be completed by May

The centre, which has also played host to another of Kettering's famous sons, James Acaster, as well as comics Jack Dee, Rosie Jones and Josh Widdecombe, is currently undergoing a £300,000 redevelopment.

A new stage is being built and underfloor heating is being installed.

In September, Rev Coles performed a sell-out one-man show called Borderline National Trinket, after a moniker given to him by his late husband David.

After the gig he agreed to be the centre's first patron.

The Reverend Tom Houston said it was "awesome news" when Richard Coles agreed to become patron

"Rev Coles embodies the values of the Kettering Arts Centre, namely arts and faith," the centre said.

"His passion for championing the arts is a privilege to Kettering Arts Centre."

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Rev Coles was the vicar of St Mary's Church in Finedon for 11 years, until April 2022.

Rev Coles stepped down from parish duties in Finedon in 2022

He had previously spoken about how proud he was to come from Kettering.

"The older I get the more I realise that you're the product of your past - and I'm Kettering - and I think when I was young what I wanted to be was 'not Kettering'," he said.

"I wanted to go away and have adventures in the world and go to great cities and travel, and I love all that, but as I get older I know that I really am proper Kettering actually."

Mr Houston said: "We were just over the moon and delighted when he accepted.

"His support is just incredible."