Marriage law is not just about church rules and regulations, but is to do with the law of the land. We do have to stay within the law, or the wedding would not be legal!

The Marriage Measure which came into force on 1 October 2008 made it much easier for couples who could demonstrate a “qualifying connection” with a particular church to be married there, and specified a number of such qualifying connections. Where there is no historic, family or residence connection, couples can create for themselves a qualifying connection. Many of the couples who marry here establish a link by attending twice a month for at least six months, and we are delighted to welcome couples who would like to do this.

For further details about marriage in church please visit the Church of England web site http://www.cofe.anglican.org/ - use the menu on the right of that page to click on “Life events” and click on “Weddings”

Also visit http://www.yourchurchwedding.org/ - a resource which has lots of ideas to help you plan your wedding and make it unique and special, a day you can look back upon with joy and gratitude for the rest of your lives.

Where one of the parties has been divorced (or both have), the divorce makes things a little more complicated. There are certain circumstances in which the Church of England might not consider a church wedding appropriate, and the Rector will need to talk to the couple in more detail about their previous marriage(s) and relationship(s), before a decision can be made about the possibility of a church wedding. The Church of England requires us to do this. Please see the following page which explains things with regard to divorce.

https://www.yourchurchwedding.org/article/marriage-after-divorce/

There is a link there for you to the Church of England web site for a more detailed leaflet all about marrying again in church if you’re divorced.

If you are planning a church wedding, it is better to make contact sooner rather than later, and to put an initial booking into the diary. Some of the more popular reception venues can book up to eighteen months in advance! In order to book a wedding, in the first instance either the bride or the groom should make contact with us (preferably via email to [email protected]). We will then suggest an appropriate time for us to meet. We can then ascertain that the necessary legal requirements can be met, and in the course of the meeting the couple are given all the information they need to know about marrying in that particular church.

Fees for a wedding in the Benefice for 2024 are as follows:

Statutory fees: 

Banns of Marriage £36 + £18 if a certificate is required

Church Service £531

Fees for other services 

Organist £90 (double if the service is recorded via Video, by Professional or Amateur)

Church bells £120 (where possible) 

Heating £50 

Verger £50 

Mandatory video permission fee £30

Choir - Contact Fr Chris if you would like a small local choir to boost the singing of the hymns

Note: separate arrangements must be made for the provision of flowers or ribbons etc to dress the church.

Fees are required to be paid and cleared at least 14 days before the wedding either directly to the Rector or to the treasurer, by bank cheque or money transfer.