Some Montreal Anglicans say they're disappointed with a decision by their church leaders not to bless same-sex marriages.

Over the weekend, bishops with the Anglican Church of Canada voted 21-19 against a motion which would have allowed individual dioceses to choose whether to perform blessings of same-sex unions.

The motion had been approved by delegates who said blessing the unions does not violate the church's core doctrine.

Montreal Bishop Barry Clark, who attended the general synod and voted in favour of the motion, said its defeat will be a bitter pill for his congregation.

"I'm disappointed. I will work to continue to promote what I can," he told CBC News on Sunday.

Saint George's Anglican Church member Patricia Bryan said she supports the blessing even though she personally opposes same-sex marriage.

"I think they should give a blessing because these people are human beings, like anybody else. And I believe that they deserve the same treatment even though I am not in favour of the marriage," she said. "I think a blessing's the least we can do."

But for some members of Montreal's gay community, the bishops' decision makes sense.  

"I don't believe they should bless the wedding if they aren't ready to do the wedding," Michel Vaillancourt said. "Why would they bless something they don't believe in?"

Same-sex marriage has been legal across Canada since July 20, 2005, under the Civil Marriage Act.