A North-East vicar who later this month will formalise a same-sex relationship with his partner insisted yesterday he had no worries about losing his job.

"I am doing nothing illegal, I am doing nothing immoral," said the Reverend Chris Wardale, vicar of Holy Trinity Church, in Darlington.

Neither 59-year-old Mr Wardale nor his partner, Malcolm Macourt, 58, would disclose the nature of their relationship.

Mr Wardale admitted, however, that he had not directly told Dr Tom Wright, the Bishop of Durham, about plans for the civil partnership ceremony on December 21 - the first day that the law becomes effective.

Legal notice of intention was posted yesterday at register offices in Darlington and Newcastle.

The announcement fuels divisions in the Anglican communion over homosexuality. A statement from the Bishop of Durham said he was "aware of the situation and hopes that the House of Bishops guidelines will be followed".

The guidelines, issued in July, state that while same-sex partnerships are not "intrinsically incompatible" with holy orders, clergy must be prepared to give assurances about celibacy to their bishop.

"The bishop has no right to ask about our private lives and neither has a journalist," said Mr Macourt, a retired University of Northumbria academic.

"The bishops can make any inferences they want, but they can't act on them without facts. They can't assume sexual activity."

Mr Macourt's father, a retired archdeacon in the Church of Ireland, is said to be "very happy" for them and will attend the ceremony with his wife.

The couple met 21 years ago, a year later exchanging private vows in a small church in north Northumberland. They have shared houses in Newcastle and Darlington.

"It is basically a confirmation and affirmation of what has been going on for 21 and a half years, a celebration of what has been and we pray will be," said Mr Wardale.

"We are very excited about it. I now have a great deal more sympathy with couples preparing to be married. It has been a very useful piece of professional training."

The civil ceremony will take place in Newcastle register office, followed by a service of thanksgiving in nearby St Thomas the Martyr Church, at which Dr David Jenkins, the former Bishop of Durham will preach.

The bishops' guidelines also forbid services of blessing in church following civil partnership ceremonies.

The Reverend Kit Widdows, of St Thomas's, said that they felt it appropriate to give thanks for a "long-term faithful relationship".

Dr Jenkins said yesterday that he regretted that all concerned would be drawn into controversy.

"I had, however, immense respect and affection for Chris and his companion for a decade.

"I am quite prepared to turn up at their recognition service, in both joy and hope."

Mr Wardale, formerly a curate at St Mary's, in Cockerton, Darlington, and Vicar of Boldon Colliery, South Tyneside, said that he couldn't see why his parish living would be endangered.

"The bishop knows I'm gay, we've had conversations about it. He's a realist - he'd have been very surprised if someone from the diocese wasn't going to do it.

"I don't think it will add to the division within the Church. If I had seriously thought that, we would have gone elsewhere and done things very quietly."

* Sir Elton John and his partner, David Furnish, will hold their civil partnership ceremony in Windsor, at the same venue as Charles and Camilla, it was announced yesterday.