A gay vicar who hit the headlines earlier this year for marrying a male model more than 50 years his junior says he has lost everything now they have split.

Retired Rev Philip Clements, 79, married Florin Marin, 24, in a low-key ceremony at Ramsgate Register Office in April this year.

The pair made a stance against Church of England rules that bar clergymen from same-sex marriage.

But while married life started off well in their new flat in Bucharest, Romania - bought by Mr Clements when he sold his Eastry home - things went downhill.

The pensioner says he became isolated and, to the relief of his friends who begged him to come home, he returned to the UK on September 24.

But having signed the flat over to Mr Marin, he found himself homeless, relying on pals to put him up.

They are still speaking but life is not what it was for the once honorary chaplain at Northbourne Park School.

Mr Clements said: “We went off in April and we had a great time.

“We used to go out to the cinema and shopping. He makes me laugh. We’d laugh a lot.

“I came over to England for some medical appointments for a fortnight in late August. When I returned, we had a disagreement.

“I thought he was unreasonable. I take some responsibilty for it too but I decided there wasn’t a future.

“I was very lonely, not knowing the language or having any friends.

“Florin would spend a lot of time going out. He used to go to bed very late, sometimes 5am in the morning having been out nightclubbing or watching films.

“He said I wasn’t allowed to go clubbing. It wasn’t for old people. In my heart I didn’t accept it but I trusted him.”

Mr Clements originally bought the flat in Bucharest in his name but had put it in to Mr Marin’s name just a couple of days before their big disagreement.

He said: “When things were going well, I wanted him to have security when I die. I’m 80 next year.

“I didn’t want there to be any doubt about occupancy when I die.

“He appreciated me doing it but I didn’t know we were going to break up so soon.

“I left [Romania] very sadly and very unhappy.

“My friends in England were telling me I should leave him but I left with a very heavy heart.

“He came with me to the airport.

“I’ve lost everything really. I’ve lost my house and was in a poor state.

“I stayed with friends on alternate weeks until I was given a granny flat attached to one of my friend’s houses.”

Mr Clements, a former Dover Grammar School pupil, worked at libraries in Deal and Sandwich before beginning his training for the Anglican ministry and was once the chaplain of St Bart’s Hospital, Sandwich.

Since his retirement in 1999 he has helped out in the churches and schools of Eastry, Tilmanstone and Northbourne.

The Church of England’s rules state that clergy cannot enter same-sex marriages. Civil partnerships are allowed but must remain celibate.

The former parish priest said he had repressed his sexuality throughout his career because of the church’s stance on homosexuality but is now able to be his “true-self”.

He met Mr Marin, a model, on an online dating site almost three years ago and was attracted to his looks and flamboyancy.

Since leaving Romania, things have improved between the pair, Mr Clements added.

He said: “Florin started to contact me again. I hadn’t lost my feelings for him so I reciprocated. We started texting and speaking on video and we’re still in touch now.”

Florin has even visited England for a couple of days.

Mr Clements said: “Things were very amicable. It was as if he [Florin] did regret what has happened.”

They discussed making another go on things in about a year’s time.

Mr Clements said: “I believe in giving someone a second chance. There’s still something that binds us. We’re not enemies.

“I believe in giving someone a second chance. There’s still something that binds us. We’re not enemies" - Philip Clements

“He’s not doing it for money because I haven’t got much money left.

“The two of us suggested that one day we would have a flat in a town - Dover or Canterbury. He’s renting out the flat and he said he’d put part of that towards the rent.

“I don’t want a divorce and he says he doesn’t want anybody else.

“I’ve asked him to tell me if he finds somebody else and I would understand.”

The couple no longer take each other’s surnames.

When asked if he had any regrets, Mr Clements said: “Yes, I regret selling my house.

“I bought the flat. It was my suggestion to go to Romania and Florin liked the idea but I think we would have been better off if we’d stayed at my house in Eastry. I wouldn’t have been so isolated and he would have had things to do.”