Richard Keith Robert Coles FRSA FKC (born 26 March 1962)[1] is an English writer, radio presenter and Church of England priest.

[3] He is the chancellor of the University of Northampton, a former honorary chaplain to the Worshipful Company of Leathersellers, and a patron of social housing project Greatwell Homes in Wellingborough.

The company failed under Coles's father, because of the increasing popularity of cheaper foreign imports, and the family lost much of its wealth.

[4] Coles was awarded an MA by research from the University of Leeds in 2005 for work on the Greek text of the Epistle to the Ephesians.

Somerville left Bronski Beat, and in 1985 he and Coles formed the Communards,[8][4] who were together for just over three years and had three UK top 10 hits, including the biggest-selling single of 1986, a version of "Don't Leave Me This Way", which was at number one for four weeks.

Coles provided narration for the Style Council's film JerUSAlem in 1987[10] and also started a career as a writer, particularly with the Times Literary Supplement and the Catholic Herald.

[14][1] He has been chaplain of the Royal Academy of Music, played Dr Frank N Furter in a local concert and conducted an atheist funeral for Mo Mowlam in 2005.

[4][15][16] Coles was an inspiration for the character of Adam Smallbone (played by Tom Hollander) in BBC Two sitcom Rev.

Next month I am going to my first conference of prison chaplains and I hope I can make myself useful as a volunteer with inmates in the criminal justice system.

"[23] In April 2022, Coles announced that he retired from parish duties due to the Church of England allegedly increasingly excluding gay couples, and what he described as its "conservative, punchy and fundamentalist" direction.

[31][28] Coles still works as a broadcaster, which he describes as "just showing off",[32] including Nightwaves on Radio 3, which he formerly presented, and Newsnight Review on BBC Two.

Since 2014 he has appeared regularly in the "Pause for Thought" slot on Radio 2's The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, for which he won a Jerusalem Award in 2014.

[36] On 18 December 2017, Coles was a guest panellist on the Christmas special of the eleventh series of BBC1 comedy quiz Would I Lie to You?, hosted by Rob Brydon.

"[40] Coles appeared in a January 2021 episode of the BBC Four series Britain's Lost Masterpieces, discussing the story of the Magi in the gospels, in relation to a portrayal of Balthazar by Joos van Cleve.

"[45] Coles has spoken about the "mental crisis" that he suffered following his coming out, which ultimately led to him attempting suicide and being diagnosed with clinical depression.

[47][48] In 2010, the couple entered into a civil partnership (which the Church of England has allowed clergy to do since 2005[49]), with David taking Richard's surname.

[50] Coles asserted at the time that the relationship was celibate,[47] but later said that this had not been true, but he had to promise celibacy in order to maintain his job as a vicar.

Following a reference to his earlier career as an undercover police officer in Coles's 2014 autobiography, he resigned as deputy commissioner over allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a political activist.

Family ties led to Coles selecting Cork as his county (hurling team/football team) and St Finbarr's as his club.

He said: "I'll be living in a charming 18th-century cottage with a bow window that looms over the street affording a privileged view of my neighbours' comings and goings, as the scent of lavender floats across the village green.

"[60][61] In 1991, Coles sued accountants Coombes Wales Quinnell who allegedly had refused to hand over financial records until £30,000 fees were paid.