Police are investigating homophobic graffiti daubed on the porch of St John’s Church, Devizes, where the Rev Colin Coward plans to celebrate his ‘gay marriage’.

The obscene words and images in white and black marker pen appeared overnight on Saturday. The obscene graffiti referred to Mr Coward’s relationship with Nigerian fashion designer Bobby Egbele.

Acting inspector Andy Peach said: “This is a despicable act of sacrilege and we are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. Whatever people’s feelings on this issue, there is no excuse for this kind of behaviour.”

Canon Paul Richardson, rector of St John’s and St Mary’s, did not want to comment on the criminal damage, except to say that he had made a statement to police.

But the plans by 64-year-old gay rights vicar Mr Coward, who has officiated at St John’s, to ‘marry’ Mr Egbele, 25, have been condemned as disgraceful and even blasphemous by other Devizes churchgoers.

Father Peter Moss, speaking for the parochial church council at St Peter’s Church in Bath Road, said it strongly opposes Mr Coward’s plan to celebrate his civil partnership to Mr Egbele in a Eucharist at St John’s Church on October 9.

Father Moss and his congregation say Mr Coward’s plans make a mockery of the communion ceremony.

He said: “Mr Coward and his partner make no secret of the fact that theirs is not a celibate relationship.

“What is proposed in these circumstances amounts to using the Eucharist to endorse disobedience to the teaching on marriage and human sexuality of Christ.

“This is not just inappropriate but disgraceful, even blasphemous.”

Mr Coward and Mr Egbele, both from Marston, will have a civil partnership ceremony at Devizes Register Office on October 9 with the Eucharist in St John’s afterwards.

Mr Coward has consistently denied that it is a ‘gay wedding’ but Father Moss said: “Technically what is to happen is not a same-sex marriage, but it falls short of that in little but the name.”

Mr Coward said he was not concerned by the graffiti at St John’s but he was sorry the congregation at St Peter’s had taken its stance.

He said: “My partner and I are sad that the people of St Peter’s choose to adhere to a pattern of Christian life and faith which is at variance with teaching of Jesus and St Paul.

“Jesus taught the primacy of love and Paul the primacy of grace, the uninhibited generosity and graciousness of God’s love for all people, which transcends any law.

“Churches which become obsessed with rules and authority as the bedrock of their faith risk losing contact with the love of God and treat categories of people – women and homosexuals – as less than fully human.”