Few people can say they’ve gone from topping the UK charts to leading a parish congregation, but Richard Coles is one of them. A former member of the synth-pop duo The Communards, he later trained for the priesthood and served as a vicar for over a decade.
Full name: Richard Keith Robert Coles ·
Born: 26 March 1962 ·
Occupation: Writer, radio presenter, Church of England priest ·
Known for: The Communards, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! ·
Net worth (estimated): £3.9 million
Quick snapshot
- Richard Coles was a member of The Communards (1985–1988) (Wikipedia)
- He was ordained as a Church of England priest in 2005 (National World)
- He served as Vicar of Finedon from 2011 to 2022 (Official site)
- He appeared on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in November 2024 (Official site)
- Exact net worth – estimates range from £1–3 million to £3.9 million
- Specific reasons for leaving the vicarage beyond public statements
- Details of future book projects
- Whether he will return to any form of ministry
- Exact number of books published – often cited as nine but not officially confirmed
- 1962: Born in Northampton (Wikipedia)
- 1985–1988: Member of The Communards (Wikipedia)
- 2003: Began priesthood training (The Tab)
- 2022: Left vicarage; joined I’m a Celebrity (Official site)
- Continuing as broadcaster and author (Official site)
- Occasional stand-in broadcaster at Times Radio since May 2025 (Official site)
- Murder mystery series adapted for TV (The Tab)
Seven key facts about Richard Coles, drawn from official and verified sources:
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Richard Keith Robert Coles (Wikipedia) |
| Born | 26 March 1962, Northampton, England (Wikipedia) |
| Occupation | Writer, radio presenter, retired priest (Official site) |
| Known for | The Communards, I’m a Celebrity, BBC Radio 4 |
| Net worth (estimated) | £3.9 million (per Heart) to £1–3 million (other estimates) |
| Marital status | Widowed (married Rev David Coles 2010–2019) |
| Religion | Church of England (Anglican) (The Telegraph) |
Why is Richard Coles no longer a Vicar?
Coles stepped down as Vicar of Finedon in 2022 after more than a decade in the role. In an interview with The Telegraph (British daily newspaper), he said he felt the Church of England increasingly “excludes” gay couples, a factor in his decision. He also cited a need for change and new opportunities.
What led to his decision to leave the priesthood?
Beyond the institutional stance, Coles had been juggling parish duties with a growing media career. His official website states he “retired from parish duties” in 2022 (Official site). The move allowed him to focus on writing, broadcasting, and live appearances. He has not ruled out returning to some form of ministry in the future.
Coles left the very institution he spent years representing, partly because of its treatment of LGBTQ+ clergy — a tension that mirrors broader debates within the Anglican communion.
Why is Reverend Richard Coles famous?
Coles first rose to fame in the 1980s as the instrumentalist and co-writer in The Communards, the synth-pop duo that scored three UK top 10 hits (Wikipedia). After the band split, he trained for ordination and became a priest in 2005, a transition that earned him wide media attention.
What was his role in The Communards?
Formed with vocalist Jimmy Somerville, the duo produced hits like “Don’t Leave Me This Way” (a UK number one) and “So Cold the Night.” Coles played keyboards and contributed to songwriting. The band disbanded in 1988.
How did he become a priest?
After a period as a Roman Catholic, Coles returned to Anglicanism in 2001 (The Sun (British tabloid)). He trained at St Stephen’s House, Oxford, and was ordained in 2005. By 2011 he was appointed Vicar of Finedon (Official site).
The leap from pop stardom to priesthood made Coles a unique public figure — few clergy have the same media savvy or back catalog.
The pattern: Coles’ career has always defied expectations.
What does Rev Richard Coles do now?
Since leaving the vicarage, Coles has built a multi-faceted career as a broadcaster, author, and live performer. He co-hosted The Rabbit Hole Detectives podcast from February 2023 to April 2025, recording 106 episodes (Official site). Since May 2025, he has been an occasional stand-in broadcaster at Times Radio.
Where does Rev Richard Coles live now?
He resides in Northamptonshire, close to his former parish. He tours UK and Ireland with his spoken-word show Borderline National Trinket (The Irish World).
Is he still a vicar?
No. He retired from parish duties in 2022 and is no longer a serving vicar, though he remains a priest in good standing with the Church of England.
- Author of nine books, including the Canon Clement murder mystery series (The Tab)
- Regular contributor to BBC Radio 4 and Times Radio
The pattern: Coles has replaced parish work with a portfolio of media and creative roles that rely on the same communication skills he honed in the pulpit.
How rich is Rev Richard Coles?
Net worth estimates vary. Entertainment outlet Heart (UK radio network) reports around £3.9 million, attributing his wealth to music royalties, broadcasting fees, book sales, and TV appearances. Other sources suggest a range of £1–3 million. His company Mistramark Ltd made around £940,000 profit from 2022 to 2023 (The Tab citing The Sun).
What is his estimated net worth?
Income streams include: ongoing royalties from The Communards hits, advances and sales from nine published books, fees for TV and radio appearances, and live tour revenue. His profile on the official site lists broadcasting and writing as primary occupations.
The £3.9 million figure is cited by entertainment tabloids and not independently verified. Coles himself has not publicly confirmed a net worth.
The implication: net worth remains a matter of speculation.
Did Richard Coles ever marry?
Yes. He married Rev David Coles (formerly David Martin) in 2010. David Coles died in 2019 after a long illness. Richard has spoken openly about his grief and the support of his congregation during that period.
Is Richard Coles Catholic or Protestant?
He is an Anglican (Protestant) priest. He was raised in the Church of England, spent a decade as a Roman Catholic, and returned to Anglicanism in 2001 (The Sun).
Who was Richard Coles’ partner?
His husband, Rev David Coles, was also an Anglican priest. They lived together in the Finedon vicarage. David’s death in 2019 was a major personal turning point.
Timeline of Richard Coles’ life
- 26 March 1962 – Born in Northampton (Wikipedia)
- 1985–1988 – Member of The Communards (Wikipedia)
- 1990s – Trained for ordination at St Stephen’s House, Oxford (The Tab)
- 2005 – Ordained as Church of England priest (National World)
- 2011 – Appointed Vicar of Finedon (Official site)
- 2010 – Married Rev David Coles (Official site)
- 2019 – Death of husband David Coles (Official site)
- 2022 – Retired from parish duties; appeared on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (Official site)
- 2023–2025 – Co-hosted The Rabbit Hole Detectives podcast (Official site)
- 2025 – Occasional stand-in broadcaster at Times Radio (Official site)
The pattern: his life has been marked by dramatic transitions.
Clarity: confirmed and unclear facts
Confirmed facts
- Richard Coles was a vicar from 2011 to 2022 – Official site
- He was a member of The Communards – Wikipedia
- He is Anglican – The Telegraph
- He married David Coles in 2010 – multiple sources
- He retired from parish duties in 2022 – Official site
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth – estimates vary between £1–3 million and £3.9 million
- Specific reasons for leaving beyond public statements
- Details of future book projects
- Whether he will return to any form of ministry
- Exact number of books published – often cited as nine but not officially confirmed
The takeaway: while many facts are confirmed, key details remain uncertain.
Quotes from Richard Coles
“I felt I had done what I could there.”
— Richard Coles, on leaving the vicarage (The Telegraph)
“The Church of England is increasingly excluding gay couples.”
— Richard Coles, explaining his decision (The Telegraph)
“Richard Coles is an English writer, radio presenter, and Church of England priest.”
— Wikipedia biographical summary
The pattern: his public statements reflect his personal convictions.
For Richard Coles, the next chapter is still being written. His transition from vicar to media personality has been smooth, but the trade-off is clear: he traded a stable parish community for a more nomadic public life. For his audience, the choice is between the comfort of a familiar voice on the radio and the edge of a former pop star turned reality TV contestant.
His extraordinary path from pop star to vicar is explored in a comprehensive biography, which also covers his work as an author and broadcaster.
Frequently asked questions
What is Richard Coles’ most famous book?
His murder mystery novel Murder Before Evensong (2022) is his most commercially successful, launching the Canon Clement series. A sequel, Murder in the Monastery, is being adapted for TV.
How did Richard Coles meet his husband?
They met through church circles; David Coles was also a priest. They married in 2010.
Does Richard Coles have children?
No, he does not have children.
What is Richard Coles’ role on BBC Radio 4?
He has been a frequent guest and occasional stand-in presenter on programmes such as The Today Programme and Saturday Live.
How long was Richard Coles on I’m a Celebrity?
He appeared in the 2024 series and lasted about two weeks before being voted out.
What was Richard Coles’ first job?
After leaving school, he worked as a session musician before joining The Communards.
Is Richard Coles still a member of The Communards?
No, the duo disbanded in 1988. He has not reunited with Jimmy Somerville for any performances.
The takeaway: these answers address common curiosities about Coles’ life.
George Harry Howard Bennett is a staff writer for Public Journal UK, specializing in UK news, policy analysis, and public affairs coverage. He works under Editor-in-Chief Margaret Ellison, maintaining high standards of sourcing, verification, and fact-checking. Bennett reports on Westminster, government policy, and societal issues, providing balanced and accurate journalism with timely insight.