Family Occasions
Marriage, Blessing & Banns
Many couples choose to celebrate their marriage not only surrounded by family and friends, but also before God in a church building.
Each of our churches is available to couples for marriage, and also for services of Blessing following a civil marriage (or perhaps a marriage abroad). We also offer other related services, for instance Renewal of Vows to mark an anniversary, the Dedication of New Rings, or to ask God's blessing following a difficult time in a relationship.
There is considerable flexibility in terms of the music for services, and there are opportunities for photography and video recording both inside and outside the building. There is always plenty of time to make the occasion special.
Christian marriage, as well as being a holy occasion (a Sacrament), is also a legal contract governed by the law of the land. The rules say that anyone who lives in a parish, or who worships regularly there, may choose to be married in the church of that parish — to see if you live in one of our parishes, type your postcode into the A Church Near You website. Recent changes in the law mean that other people with a connection to the parish are also able to marry here.
Services of Blessing and Dedication (either immediately following a marriage elsewhere, or at a later date) do not have the same legal status, and are available to all who have a connection with the parishes or their churches. Those marrying in another Church of England church may need Banns of Marriage called in this parish.
Where one or both parties have had a previous marriage which ended in divorce and their previous spouse is still alive, we are required to interview the couple prior to agreeing to conduct the marriage — in these circumstances please contact Rev. Peter Liley for more details.