WHY BE MARRIED IN CHURCH?
A wedding is one of life's great moments, a time of solemn commitment as well as good wishes, feasting and joy. St John tells us how Jesus shared in such an occasion at Cana, and gave there a sign of new beginnings as he turned water into wine. Marriage is intended by God to be a creative relationship, as his blessing enables husband and wife to love and support each other in good times and in bad, and to share in the care and upbringing of children. For Christians, marriage is also an invitation to share life together in the spirit of Jesus Christ. It is based upon a solemn, public and life-long covenant between a man and a woman, declared and celebrated in the presence of God and before witnesses. On their wedding day the bride and bridegroom face each other, make their promises and receive God's blessing. The congregation are witnesses of the marriage and express their support by their presence and their prayers.
WHO CAN BE MARRIED IN THE BENEFICE? ALL MARRIAGE REQUESTS ARE WELCOMED!
A lot of useful information is available though the Church of England: http://www.yourchurchwedding.org/faqs/frequently-asked-questions.aspx
For further information, please contact the Benefice Administrator:
Tracey Burge
t: 01235 867404
e: traceybur256@aol.com
PREPARING FOR THE WEDDING
If you decide to get married in the Benefice, please make an appointment with the Rector, the Revd Neal Phair, to fill in the Marriage Application Form as soon as possible. This will mean that the Church can be booked for your Wedding.
THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING:
Contact the priest who will be conducting your wedding in order to discuss the ceremony. This is to help you plan the wedding service so that it is a unique celebration of you as a couple as well as a reverent act of worship.
- Contact the organist to help you in the selection of music and any choir items.
- Arrange for the calling of banns in the Benefice on 3 consecutive Sundays in the main 10 am church service.You are expected to be present for the calling of these banns
- Organise the calling of banns in the other parish or apply for your Common License.
- Contact the person in charge of the flowers at the church
- Contact the person in charge of the bells if required.
ONE MONTH BEFORE THE WEDDING:
- Pay the church fees
- Make sure you have a rehearsal time booked.
THE REHEARSAL
The Rehearsal will provide an opportunity for you to go through the marriage service so that you know what to expect. At the rehearsal the following people should be present: Bride and Groom, Best Man, Chief Bridesmaid, the person giving the Bride away, the chief usher, witnesses (you need 2 of these to sign the registers) and anyone else playing an active part in the service (Readers, etc).
FEES FOR WEDDINGS
There are statutory fees set by the Church of England for the Calling of Banns, the Marriage Service and the Marriage Certificate. These are updated every January. The latest fees can be found at http://www.yourchurchwedding.org/your-wedding/the-cost-of-church-weddings.aspx. There are also fees for heating the church, the verger, the organist and the bells if they are required.
Fees for a Common Licence or Special Licence are payable to those who issue them. Fees for the organist, the bells and the flowers are payable to the individual people concerned. When you book your wedding, information about these fees will be given to you with directions on when and how to pay them.
MARRIAGE PREPARATION
The Church of England expects all couples who are planning to be married in church to take part in marriage preparation. In this Benefice we organise an afternoon in early Spring called 'Looking at Marriage' and invite you to attend.
THE MARRIAGE SERVICE
Although you may have other readings in your service that mean something to you, you must include a Bible reading. Some Popular Bible Readings you can choose from are:
- Genesis 1: 26-38 - The creation of people
- Song of Solomon 2: 10-13, 8: 6-7- A Love Poem
- Matthew 5:1-10 - The Beatitudes
- Matthew 7:21, 24-29 - Firm foundations are neededfor long lasting relationships
- Mark 10: 6-9 - One flesh
- John 2:1-11 - The wedding at Cana
- John 15: 1-8 - Growth and a fruitful life depend on being one with Christ
- Romans 12:1, 2,9-18 - Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, acceptable to God
- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 - Love, the greatest gift.
- Ephesians 3: 14-end - A payer of praise
- Philippians 4: 4-9 - Honourable living
- Colossians 3: 12-17 - Living in love
- 1 John 4:1-12 - Let us love one another, because love is from God
HYMNS OFTEN SUNG AT WEDDINGS are:
- Alleluia, sing to Jesus
- All creatures of our God and King
- All people that on earth do dwell
- All things bright and beautiful
- Be thou my vision
- Come down, O love divine
- Dear Lord and Father of mankind
- Father, hear the prayer we offer
- Give me joy in my heart
- Immortal, invisible, God only wise
- Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
- Lord of all hopefulness
- Love divine, all loves excelling
- Make me a channel of your peace
- Morning has broken
- Now thank we all our God
- O Jesus, I have promised
- O worship the King
- One more step along the world I go
- Praise my soul, the King of heaven
- The Lord's my shepherd
If you have any questions please contact the Benefice Administrator:
Tracey Burge
t: 01235 867404
e: traceybur256@aol.com
