Getting Married

"A man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.  So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate" (Mark 10: 7-9)

Getting married in church is the best possible way to begin married life. Many couples choose to have their wedding in church not only because it's the traditional place to begin their married life, but also before God the vows and promises made to each other are the deepest commitment it's possible for them to make.

Weddings don't have to be expensive, grand affairs.  Some of the most moving weddings are also the simplest.  But whatever the style, we can provide a wonderful setting for one of the most important days of your lives.  The church bell ringers, flower arrangers, and organist are all ready to help. 

Both St Bartholomew's and St Christopher's are licensed for weddings.  If you have already married in a civil registry office then you can still have your marriage blessed, which can be set up to be similar to a marriage service.

Who can get married in the parish?

This is an important consideration because it's not automatically the case that anyone can get married anywhere.  Each couple must qualify to marry in either of our churches.  The question is, do you qualify?  To begin with, the best way to confirm your qualification is to take a look at the Church of England's special website for those planning a wedding.

You can find the site at www.yourchurchwedding.org, and the 'Just Engaged' page will help you to simply assess the licence and qualifications.  In practice there is usually always a way to make it possible for you to get married in the church you wish. 
 

How do we prepare to marry in church?

The pathway to prepare for your church wedding at St Bartholomew's or St Christopher's is a blessed and special time you will spend with the minister who will eventually marry you.  You will have regular personal contact with him or her through the journey.  After an initial meeting to confirm the arrangements, the couple will also meet to prepare the wedding day service, and make a short rehearsal a few days before the ceremony.  The church will help you prepare your order of service, personalised with music, readings and other elements to make it a wedding particular to you.
 

How much does it cost?

The main fees are made up of the basic marriage fee, an organist, and bell ringers if you want them.  All this would normally be less than £800.  You might also need to think about flowers.  www.yourchurchwedding.org has some very useful tools to help you to plan your ceremony.  

How can we get started?

The best way forward is to simply call Rector Chris or the Parish Office, who will be able to answer all of your questions and to discuss dates. You can find the contact details here.

You can find the contact details here.