Congratulations! A very warm welcome to you if you are thinking about being married at our church!



We have created the guide below to answer the main questions you probably have about getting married in our church. We would love to make the day personal to you and get to know you to help make this day special. Please ready have a read through the information below and get in touch so we can discuss your wedding in more detail...

1. Whether you are so closely related to each other that the law does not permit you to marry. You will need to certify that this is not the case.

2. Whether either of you is not a UK National. Special issues arise in this situation and these need to be considered before further progress can be made.

3. Whether either of you is qualified to be married at our church. Qualification comes by virtue either of being a resident in the parish; or of being on the church electoral roll; or of having close family links with the parish.

Once these issues have been clarified we will send you a booklet with further information and ask you to arrange an appointment with the Church Operations Manager and one of the leadership team. At this meeting all the arrangements for the wedding service can be discussed and any questions that you have can be raised.

---

Which dates and times are available?

Around 30 weddings a year take place at our church, most of them on Saturdays in the Spring and Summer months, though they can be on any day and at any time of year. The earlier you make your arrangements, the more likely it is that a particular date will be available. It would be unwise to book the reception without first checking on availability of the church.

Please contact the Church Office for an initial idea of available dates - this can then be firmed up at your meeting.

---

Why get married at our Church?

Our church is a beautiful church building, set in the picturesque centre of the town, making the perfect location for a wedding. A team of dedicated leaders and administrators will help you to plan your big day.

However there are certain other important distinctions which make a church wedding different to a civil service in a registry office or other licensed venue. Here's three things which we believe about marriage which might see us take a different approach to a wedding:

• We believe that marriage is a gift from God; a gift which celebrates joy and love, a gift which helps us care for one another - especially children, and a gift which helps to build and strengthen our communities, so we want to help you celebrate.
• We believe that there is a certain solemnness and seriousness to marriage, the lifelong vows taken and promises made are hugely important, so we treat marriage with reverence and respect.
• We believe that marriage works best when God is 'at the centre' - the Bible tells us that 'love comes from God', he gives us the love to be faithful and sacrificial in our marriages. To that end, we will pray for you, include a Bible reading and short talk in the service, and help you to consider God's love as you prepare for marriage.

Is there a Marriage Preparation Course?

Yes, if your wedding is taking place at our church, we want to prepare you not just for the day itself but for your marriage relationship, so attending our marriage preparation course is part of the deal. The course takes place over a Saturday in March, July and October each year. The Session is from 10.00am to 3.30pm.  A simple buffet lunch is provided.

---

What will it cost?

A lot less than the reception! The fee for a wedding is £650. This includes the minister, a couple's liaison and a facilities team to help make your wedding day go smoothly.

There are some optional extras should you wish

• Organist and organ - £150
• Church Bells and bellringers - £150

You are welcome to bring your own flowers.

If you would like to use the church hall for your reception, that is a possibility and we can discuss your requirements and work out what the cost will be.