Cork's Bishop Paul Colton to retire after 25 years leading Church of Ireland diocese

Bishop Paul Colton, who famously officiated at the wedding of David and Victoria Beckham, will retire at the end of this school year

Bishop Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, pictured against the backdrop of St. Fin Barre's Cathedral in Cork. Picture: Denis Minihane.

Cork's Bishop Paul Colton has announced his plans to retire.

In a letter to all secondary schools in his diocese, Bishop Colton, the longest-serving Church of Ireland bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross in over 400 years, confirmed he will retire by the end of the school year.

He wrote: "You may have heard that I recently started speaking about my own retirement as Bishop. An exact date has not yet been set.

"However, by the time the school year ends I will no longer be your bishop or involved in the governance of schools in the diocese."

Bishop Colton famously officiated at the wedding of Manchester United legend David Beckham and former Spice Girl Victoria Adams near Dublin in July 1999.

This came just months after he was enthroned as bishop of the diocese.

He was the first Church of Ireland bishop to openly support same-sex marriage.

Ordained in 1984 and consecrated bishop in March 1999, Bishop Colton was enthroned in St Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, on April 14, 1999.

He studied law at UCC and Cardiff University, specialising in church law and the interface between the laws of religious communities and the laws of states.

In his letter, he concluded: "No doubt, once a date has been set I will have one last opportunity to meet you all in your own school setting."