Weddings

If you have just become engaged, then Congratulations! At whatever stage of planning or preparation you find yourself, we are glad you want to explore getting married here at St Mary’s. If you want to make contact with the vicar right away, please get in touch (here).

About a Church of England Wedding

Both civic and religious weddings are occasions of great joy and significance. In the company of family and friends, we solemnly declare our intention to make a lifelong commitment. Vows are made. Rings are exchanged. The marriage bond is registered according to law.

At church weddings, these events occur in a service of worship to Almighty God, in which we give thanks to him for his goodness, we hear his word, and your priest declares, and you receive, God’s blessing. In the opening chapter of the Bible, when God saw the beauty of the world which he had made, he saw that it was good and he blessed it. In the blessing of a marriage, we hear echoes of God’s words of approval and encouragement which we carry with us into the years ahead.

There are resources on the Church of England website for you to begin thinking about your wedding service. These will help you with some of your planning, but it will be at your meeting with the Vicar that you put together the service.

Questions?

Can anyone be married in a Church of England Church?

If you are entitled to be married in the UK, and you have what is called a Qualifying Connection with a parish, then it is usually possible to be married according to the relevant UK and Church of England laws at the parish church.

Do we have a Qualifying Connection?

Quite possibly! There are lots of ways of establishing a Qualifying Connection with a parish.

One of you:

1) lives in the parish
2) is on the church’s electoral roll
3) has at any point in your life lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months
4) has habitually attended normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months
5) was baptised in the parish
6) was prepared for confirmation in the parish

One of your parents; at any time after you were born:

7) has lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months
8) has at any time habitually attended normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months

One of your parents or grandparents:

9) was married in the parish.

Or:

10) you have been granted a Special Licence

Even if, for whatever reason, you do not have a connection, it is always wise to approach the Vicar (here) who will advise you about how to establish one.

I have been divorced; can I marry in church?

The Church of England sees marriage as permanent and lifelong. It also recognises that sometimes marriages end for various painful reasons and it does permit clergy to marry divorced persons in church. You should approach the Vicar (here) who will advise you about how to proceed.

Do we need to arrange Banns?

Banns are public announcements made in Church (your home parishes, and the parish where you are getting married), on at least three Sundays in the 3 months immediately preceding your wedding. They are an important legal preliminary. Most people who marry do so following Banns, and your priest will ask for Banns certificates from other churches where they were announced.

If you are not marrying following Banns, but are instead marrying by Special Licence or Superintendent Registrar’s Schedule, then the Vicar (here) will advise you.

Can we have Flowers, Bells, and Music on the Day?

Flowers:
St Mary’s is a beautiful church, made all the more lovely by the presence of floral arrangements. Apart from Lent and Advent, there will always be flowers in church, but at weddings couples may, if they wish, choose special church flowers by arrangement with our skilled and dedicated flowers team. There are fees for this, but the flowers team will be happy to discuss specific arrangements and are able to cater for most budgets. The Vicar (here) will advise you about fees.

Bells:
We have a splendid bells team.

Music:
We have a wonderful digital organ, and a fantastic Director of Music who can advise you.

The Vicar (here) will put you in touch with the right team following the confirmation of your booking.