Weddings

Congratulations!

Christians believe that marriage is a gift from God. There is something in a public commitment of this magnitude that has a spiritual element to it and which can transform a relationship to a new and deeper level.

When you commit to someone they are always in your thoughts; when you decide things, you always consider how it will affect them, not just you"Jesus' teaching on marriage, as exclusive, unbreakable and forging a new family unit, originates from Adam and Eve which were made for each other (Gen 2). 

Jesus loved a good wedding: he turned water into wine at a wedding reception (John 2), his first recorded miracle.

Your wedding ceremony can be a simple, personal occasion with a few close friends and relatives, or a grand elaborate occasion with a packed congregation.  The priest will help you to personalise your cermony to ensure it is a memorable, god centered occasion.  You will discuss flowers, photographs, readings, music and your banns.  Your banns of marriage will be published as a public announcment of your intention to marry on three consecutive sundays during the 3 months before the wedding.  Why not have your wedding pictures taken in our beautiful Garden of Hope after the ceremony.

Anglican Weddings:
Any couples wishing to get married are invited to come along and discuss it with Rev. Peter Dawkin.
 
You do not have to be a regular churchgoer to get married in the Church of England, neither must you have been baptised. The Church welcomes the opportunity for you to make your solemn promises to each other not just in front of your family and friends but also in the sight of God and with God's blessing. 
C of E website: http://www.yourchurchwedding.org/

Catholic Weddings:
Any couples wishing to get married are invited to attend a deanery Marriage preparation course. Please see Father Matthew who will be pleased to pass on more details.

You do not need to be a practising Catholic. As long as neither partner has been married before, at least one partner has been baptised as a Catholic, and the couple are willing to sign up to the four basic principles of marriage, the priest should be happy to conduct the ceremony. When one member of the couple is not a Catholic, a dispensation is required for a mixed marriage to take place.

The four basic principles of a Catholic wedding are:
1. You are choosing to marry freely, without external pressure.
2. You intend to remain together for the rest of your life.
3. You intend to remain faithful to one another.
4. Unless the Bride is past childbearing age, you intend to have at least one child during the course of your marriage.