The Reverend Richard Coles was born on March 26, 1962, in Northampton, England. He was educated at the independent Wellingborough School, where he was a choirboy, and at the South Warwickshire College of Further Education, Department of Drama and the Liberal Arts. Coles is a well-known figure in the Church of England, having been a priest, broadcaster, writer, and musician.
Before entering the ministry, Coles was a member of the 1980s band The Communards, where he was the multi-instrumentalist who partnered Jimmy Somerville. The band achieved three Top Ten hits, including "Don't Leave Me This Way," which reached number one in the UK in 1986. After leaving the band, Coles studied theology at King's College London from 1990.
In addition to his work as a priest, Coles is also a successful broadcaster and writer. He co-presents Saturday Live on BBCR4, and his writing has been featured in a variety of publications, including The Times, The Daily Telegraph, and The Guardian. In January 2011, Coles was appointed as the parish priest of St Mary the Virgin, Finedon in the Diocese of Peterborough. Throughout his career, Coles has been an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and has used his platform to promote inclusivity and acceptance within the Church of England.