WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A WEDDING IN CHURCH?
Introduction
Thinking of getting married? Want to renew your vows? Many congratulations!
In our churches we uphold the traditional teaching of the Church about marriage, that it is the gift of God in creation and a means of grace and that it should be undertaken as a lifelong commitment.
If you would like to get married at St Giles’, St Mary’s or St Bartholomew’s, do contact us as soon as possible. We will do all we can to ensure your wedding day is a very happy one and that your marriage begins on the firmest of foundations. You will be invited to make your solemn promises to each other, not only in front of your family and friends, but in the sight of God and with God’s blessing.
We will help you to prepare for your marriage, both with the logistics as well as emotionally and spiritually.
All three churches are very close to leading reception venues.
What should I do first of all?
You are encouraged to come along and worship at our churches on a Sunday to ensure that you are comfortable with the type of worship and are happy to make our church your spiritual home. You can also meet our Vicar, the Revd Ashley Hines.
Please check the calendar page of this website for our service times.
When you have attended a church service and are sure that this is the church for you, you can contact our Parish Administrator, Lynne Mills, at the church office. Lynne will agree a date and complete a wedding application form with you for your chosen church. Lynne will liaise with Ashley, our Vicar, and, if you have not already met her, put you in contact with her. When you meet Ashley, you must bring with you a form of photo identification – either a current passport or photographic driving licence – and proof of residency.
Special requirements to be married in our churches
We are delighted to marry all couples who come to us requesting a marriage service providing the legal requirements are met and you can prove that one of the person’s concerned:
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- was baptised in the parish or
- has been confirmed and the confirmation has been entered in a register book belonging to the parish or
- has, at any time, had his or her usual place of residence in the parish for at least six months or
- has, at any time, habitually attended worship in the parish for at least six months or
- have parents who at any time during the person’s lifetime have had their usual place of residence in the parish for six months or
- have parents who at any time during the person’s lifetime habitually attended public worship in the parish for at least six months or
- have parents or grandparents who were married in the parish
Foreign nationals
If you are a foreign national your application will need to be referred to the civil registrar for an additional licence. Lynne will be able to help you with this procedure if necessary.
The banns
The publication of banns is a legal requirement where, on a Sunday morning, your intention to marry is announced to the community and is part of the process of confirming that you are legally able to marry. This is done over the first three Sundays of the month, typically two to three months prior to your wedding.
Lynne will inform you of these dates. At least one of the couple is required to be present on each of these Sundays (both should aim to be there) during the service and should make themselves known to whoever is leading the service, and our wedding co-ordinator, Jane Clarke. Many parents and other family members like to attend too and will be very welcome.
What if I have been divorced?
Although marriage is a lifelong commitment, the church recognises that occasionally marriages break down and result in divorce. If one or both of you has been divorced then Ashley may want to discuss with you how the previous marriage went wrong, and also discuss the needs and concerns of any children from the previous marriage.
Ashley will want to see that all efforts have been made to establish good relations with the previous marriage partner and that sufficient time has elapsed since the decree absolute.
You will need to bring the original Decree Absolute Certificate with you when you make the wedding application. If Ashley is happy to marry you, then you can be married under the same qualifying conditions as any other couple.
What if one of us practices a different religion?
If one of you belongs to another faith which is not Christian, then it is still possible for you to get married but you must have the normal Christian service.
What does it cost to have a church wedding?
At the time of booking the wedding, the Parish Administrator will inform you of the costs. These are also detailed on church noticeboards and the Church of England website as they are set nationally. You should be aware that if your wedding is over a year away the charges payable will increase slightly, typically in line with inflation. All Church of England vicars are officially registrars, so you do NOT have to pay both the church and the local registrar. You will only need the local registry office to obtain your marriage certificate.
The vows
The vows that you make are at the heart of your wedding day. Church is the only place you can make promises this big to each other. By making these promises in church, you invite a loving and profoundly caring God to help you keep them – ‘I (name), take you (name), to be my wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death us do part’.
Contact us:
Parish Administrator – Lynne Mills – lynnewwh@outlook.com and 07721 767963
For further information visit the Church of England Wedding website: http://www.yourchurchwedding.org
Some Local Wedding Reception Venues
New Hall Hotel, Sutton Coldfield
