Congratulations on your engagement.  We hope that it will be the start of a life-long and very happy relationship. 

We are glad you are considering coming to one of our beautiful churches for your ceremony.  We hope that reading through the following pages will help you in your planning.  You may also like to look at the website www.yourchurchwedding.com for more information.

Eligibility

The first thing to do is to check whether you are eligible to marry in one of our parishes.  Rules have recently been relaxed, so even if neither of you live here, it may still be possible provided you can demonstrate one of the following: 

         One of you was baptised, confirmed, or prepared for confirmation here 

         One of you has at any time lived in the parish for at least six months 

         One of you has habitually attended public worship for at least six months (this means at least three times a year or a longer or more regularly over a shorter period) 

        One of you has a parent who has lived in the parish for at least six months any time after you were born  

        One of you has a parent who has regularly been to normal services in our churches for at least six months any time after you were born    

        One of you has a parent or grandparent who was married in the parish 

If you’re not sure of the parish boundaries, check the website: www.achurchnearyou.com 

Make a date   

You probably have a date and time in mind.  It’s important to check the availability of the church before you go to the expense of booking reception venues etc., so phone the Priest in Charge (telephone Revd Fran Wakefield 01759 371264) as soon as possible to make a provisional booking. 

What happens next 

You will be sent a form to fill in and required to show documentary evidence of your eligibility to be married, including, if possible, an up to date passport and proof of address.  Once this is done, the Priest in Charge will make an appointment to meet up with you, take further details and help you prepare for the life-long commitment you are about to make. About six weeks before your wedding, we will meet again to look together in more detail at the service and the vows you are to make, and then a day or two before the big day, we will meet in church to go through the service together.  

Frequently asked questions. 

One of us has been married before, but we still want a church wedding. 

The Church of England agreed in 2002 that divorced people could remarry in church under certain circumstances. We believe that marriage is for life, but also recognise that sadly, some marriages do fail.  Please phone the Priest in Charge and explain your situation. She will want to talk to you frankly about your past and your hopes for the future and will let you know whether she can remarry you. Even if it is not possible to take your wedding, there is the possibility of a service of prayer and dedication after a
civil ceremony.   A helpful resource, Marriage in church after divorce, is available on the Church of England web site. www.cofe.anglican.org 

What happens if one of us is a foreign national? 

If you are a foreign national, having a Church of England wedding will involve some extra paperwork to make sure your marriage is recognised in the country you come from. In many cases, it is straightforward and we’re here to help you through the process.  If one or both of you is not resident, then the Home Office web page on visiting the UK to marry is a good starting point to find out what entry clearance you might need. See www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk   for more information. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need a Common Licence in order to finalise the legal admin, but your Vicar can advise whether you need this and can help you with the application. It is particularly relevant if one of you is a national of a country outside Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa,
the EU or the USA see www.yourchurchwedding.com for more information and help. 

How much will it cost? 

The Priest in Charge will be able to give you a detailed break-down of fees, but roughly speaking, a wedding in one of our churches, with organist, will cost around £500. 

I’m Church of England but my partner’s a Catholic. Does that matter? 

It doesn’t matter from the Church of England’s perspective. Anyone is welcome to be married in their local Church of England parish church. If one of you is a Roman Catholic and you want the Roman Catholic Church to recognise your marriage, you will need to seek the advice of your Roman Catholic priest about the permission required for marrying a non-Roman Catholic. See  www.interchurchfamilies.org.uk   for more information. 

What are Banns? 

For three weeks, shortly before the planned date of your wedding, your names are read out at the main Sunday Service and people
are asked if they know of any legal objections to the marriage.  Where one of you lives in another parish, the Banns must be read there, and a certificate obtained to that effect from the minister in charge.  This certificate must be brought to the Priest in Charge at Stamford Bridge.  

If you want to know more about arranging a church wedding then go to  www.yourchurchwedding.org     

We also have a local florist Take a Leaf  www.takealeafloristry.co.uk