Eric Clapton Marries 25-Year-Old

LONDON (AP) - Eric Clapton married his girlfriend in a private New Year's Day ceremony, which included the christening of his two daughters.

The Rev. Christopher Elson, vicar of the church of St. Mary Magdalen, said Thursday that he married Clapton, 56, and American Melia McEnery, 25.

The vicar also baptized the couple's 6-month-old daughter, Julie Rose, and the guitarist's 16-year-old daughter, Ruth Patricia, from a previous relationship. "It was a very happy occasion and God's blessing upon Eric and Melia in the married life as well as for Julie and Ruth at the beginning of their Christian lives," Elson said in a statement.
He said he'd known about the wedding for some time and helped the couple plan the ceremony at the 15th-century church in Ripley, southwest of London. He said no further details would be released.

Ginny Luckhurst, a London spokeswoman for Clapton's record label, WEA, said the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member was not expected to issue a statement.

Clapton buried his 4-year-old son, Conor, at the same church 11 years ago after the child fell from the 53rd floor of a Manhattan apartment. The death inspired Clapton's Grammy-winning single "Tears in Heaven."

Conor's mother was Italian television actress Lori Del Santo.

This is Clapton's second marriage. He was wed for nine years to Patti Boyd, former wife of Beatle George Harrison. They divorced in 1988. He met McEnery, of Columbus, Ohio, in Los Angeles, where she was living at the time.