 We would love to help you celebrate your marriage in church. Marriage is a very important part of life and our society and we want to affirm and strengthen you in your commitment to each other, as well as to any children you may have. We also believe that our God of love wants to help you in your married life together and that a church wedding is a great way to get started.
Every year, usually the nearest Saturday to Valentine’s Day, we run a marriage preparation day open to all wedding couples. Here you can meet people will be involved with you in your wedding - like the organists, flower arrangers and vicar. You will be able to begin planning in more detail and think about music, readings and practical arrangements for the day. As well as all this we try to help couples think about their relationship and how to make it even stronger. Couples are given a book “Growing Together” by Andrew Body. This is a free day which couples really enjoy and is usually the first part of their marriage preparation with the clergy.
There will then usually be a further one or two meetings with the minister who will be conducting your wedding. If you need help with your order of service, our office can assist for a small charge.
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If you live in the parish, you are entitled to be married in church. Click here to see the boundaries map. If you don’t live in the parish, you may still be married here; if either of you can show any one of the following seven connections with the parish, you can be married here:-
These connections are that one of you:
- was baptised in the parish or
- was prepared for confirmation in the parish or
- has at any time lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months or
- has at any time regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months
Or that one of your parents, at any time after you were born:
- has lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months or
- has regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months.
Or that one of your parents or grandparents was married in the parish
If you don't have a connection, then you can still make one for yourself by attending regularly twice a month for six months.
Please have a look at "Your Church Wedding" (opens in a new tab). This is an excellent Church of England website which will help you plan your church wedding, choose hymns, readings and much more. You can register with the site and it will remember you, your dates, details, hymns and readings you may choose.
Resources:
“Growing together” by Andrew Body – book and course (this is provided free if you are getting married in the Len Valley Benefice)
“The Marriage Course” published by Holy Trinity, Brompton
“The Marriage preparation Course” (published as above)
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