Information for couples enquiring about marriage
We are delighted that you have chosen to marry in Holy Trinity Church, Pleshey. It is a place of great beauty, peace and charm.
Below is some advice and information you need when planning your wedding so that everything goes smoothly on your special day.
ID Documents
These must be shown to the Priest in Charge with the necessary forms completed before any arrangements can be confirmed.
Banns
The publication of your ‘Banns’ is a legal requirement specifically to ensure that there are no objections to you getting married in church.
Banns are read in Holy Trinity for three consecutive weeks starting on the seventh Sunday before the wedding service. It is advisable that you both attend on one of these occasions.
Additionally, if your place of residence is not in the Parish, then you will need Banns published in the Parish Church where you live. It is advisable to check which church that is – the closest church might not be in the parish where you do live. Again, it is advisable that you speak to the minister/priest in charge as soon as your service date is agreed at Holy Trinity. Banns will be read there on three Sundays prior to your wedding. You will need to present a certificate, from that church proving the Banns have been read, to the minister conducting the service at Holy
Trinity. This should ideally be no later than at the time of the service rehearsal. Please note, an additional fee will be charged by this parish church.
Fees
Please see further down for the details of fees for the current year. Fees will include the cost of heating – this part of the fee will be returned if no heating is used on the day.
Please ensure that all official fees are paid on time direct to our bank account, as requested, and that any cash fees are each put in separate envelopes, each envelope marked with who it is for and the cash amount enclosed e.g., Organist £100, Bells £150, etc. The envelopes with the cash fees should be given to the verger or priest at your rehearsal. Any unused fees will be returned at the end of the service to the person of your choice ie. Best Man, Usher.
Time of your Wedding
Please let us know, as soon as you can, the time of your wedding. The availability of our bell ringers and organist may depend on the time of the service.
Readings
The wedding service allows for a choice of readings – one of which must be from the Bible. Other readings are allowed e.g., poems – but please check with the priest whether they are appropriate to the reverence of the marriage service. Your reader(s) may wish to attend the rehearsal to see the layout of the church and where they will be reading.
Wedding Service Sheet
The minister conducting the service can provide a template for a service sheet. Please bring 4 copies of your service sheet to your wedding rehearsal. These are for the priest, organist, bell ringers and verger.
Wedding Rehearsal
Whilst close family and those involved in the wedding are welcome to attend the rehearsal, it isn’t necessary to have all the Bridal Party present, just the main ones i.e., bride, father of the bride (or whoever is ‘giving her away’) groom, best man, chief usher and chief bridesmaid. They will be able to inform anyone else involved of the arrangements.
Wedding Day
Holy Trinity Church is a very special place of worship to the community and to your guests.
With this in mind please do not scatter rose petals, confetti or any other material in the church.
It takes a long time to clear away and can be very dangerous for those with mobility issues.
We take a great deal of care of our churchyard and would ask that only Biodegradable confetti be thrown outside the church.
No foil or plastic confetti please.
If you are using your own florist please speak to Lynne Zwink (email and phone number below) regarding the positioning of arrangements, especially PEW END flowers. We need to know what time and what the duration of the installation will be so that the church is open and available.
There are no toilet facilities in Holy Trinity church but toilets in the Village Hall will be available to your guests. Car Parking may also be available there. However, if there is an event taking place at the village hall, your guests may need to park on the village streets.
You can contact Annette Pearcy, (email and telephone number on fees sheet) to confirm your wedding date and parking arrangements.
Punctuality
We know that you are keen for everything to run smoothly on your wedding day and so are we. With that in mind please be punctual for your rehearsal and on your wedding day.
We will charge a returnable deposit of £100 which will be reduced by £25 with every 15 minutes delay after the first 15 minutes.
Official Wedding Fees
Diocesan Fees £241
PCC fee £290
Publication of Banns £36 Total cost £567
Official Fees are to be paid 4 weeks prior to your wedding
Bank details: Holy Trinity Church, A/C No. 00019040, Sort Code 40-52-40
Please give your names in the reference box.
Other fees
Organist - by Arrangement - approx. £115-£170
Bells rung after the service - £160
Heating - £85 (refunded on the day if heating is not required)
Verger - £65 (this is not an optional charge)
Punctuality Deposit - £110 (able to be fully refunded)
Flowers: There will be no flowers in church unless by arrangement with Lynne Zwink or by the florist of your choice. If you wish flowers to be purchased & arranged by the church, costs are dependent on your requirements; a charge of 2 x the estimated purchase cost, must be paid in cash at least 4 weeks before your wedding, thus enabling the flowers to be purchased. Any difference will be charged/refunded at your rehearsal.
Contact Lynne Zwink 01245 231256 [email protected]
Other fees must be paid in cash, in separate envelopes, at your rehearsal in £10/£5 notes, showing details of what the payment(s) are for together with your names.
All of the above fees must be paid in cash
Churchwardens: Liz Eccles-Williams 01245 237237, Rye Mills 01245 237115
Village Hall Hire: Annette Pearcy 01245 237530 [email protected]
There is more helpful information at www.yourchurchwedding.org
If you are not a resident of the Parish but are getting married by “Qualifying Attendance” you are required to come to church at least once a month for the 6 months before your wedding banns are due to be read.
If you are a resident of the Parish but are getting married in another church, the fee payable to Holy Trinity Church for the publication and certificate of Banns is £54
Parochial Church Council,
Holy Trinity Church, Pleshey