The Reverend Marvin Winstanley was a minister who was found on the internet by Roy Cropper in March 1999 in a bid to find someone who would agree to marry him to Hayley Patterson. Roy was assisted in his search by Curly Watts, as Roy had not used the internet before. Marvin's contact address was listed as The Old Rectory, 49 Canal Street, Hazel Grove, MR5 7NB which according to Curly, was the other side of Manchester. The statement on Marvin's website read: "We believe that no members of society should be prevented from entering into the Holy State of Matrimony, whether by racial-ethnic origin, gender, age, orientation or other human condition." Looking at his picture on the website, Roy was relieved that at least he wasn't wearing swimming trunks.
Roy went to see Marvin Winstanley but was confused to find him dressed up in country and western gear, complete with Stetson. Marvin's church was bedecked with hay bales and American paraphernalia, though the chapel where the ceremonies took place was more traditional. Marvin saw himself as a miracle worker and saviour of people crying in the wilderness. Marvin was prepared to marry anyone under any circumstances and catered for every taste and proclivity. He claimed to have studied at the John Doe Reformed Resurrectionist Ministerial in the heart of the mid-west. Marvin hadn't married a transsexual person before, and was keen to offer Roy a date for the wedding. Roy found him pleasant and accommodating but was also slightly unnerved. On learning about Marvin, Hayley was annoyed that Roy had discussed their private affairs with someone he had found on the internet. In hearing about Winstanley, Emily Bishop suggested an alternative in her new curate, Reverend Jessica Lundy.