Weddings
Love. Given forever.
A church wedding is a beautiful thing. Vows made before God, surrounded by the people who matter, in a building that has held the prayers and promises of generations.
A wedding in church is more than a beautiful setting. You make your promises before God as well as to each other, and ask for something no couple can give themselves: the strength to keep going when things are hard, and the grace to forgive when you get it wrong.
Marriage, like the rest of the Christian life, is a slow apprenticeship. You learn to love someone the way Jesus loves us, patiently and for the long haul. A church wedding names that from the very first day.
All Saints, Holy Trinity, and St Michael’s each offer their own setting — medieval stone, choral music, quiet countryside. We’ll help you find the right one, and walk through every step with you.
You don’t need to live in one of our parishes to marry with us. If you have a qualifying connection with any of our three churches, perhaps you were baptised or confirmed there, your parents were married there, or you lived in the parish at some point, you’re welcome to be married in any of our three churches, not only the one you’re connected to.
The process is simpler than many expect. The starting point is a conversation.
You can marry in the Church of England whatever your beliefs, whether or not you were christened, and whether or not you’re a regular churchgoer. Both of you need to be 18 or over.
You don’t have to live in the parish to marry here, provided you have a qualifying legal connection to the church, such as baptism, confirmation, a parent’s marriage, or past residence. Your vicar can help you work out whether this applies to you, and what documents you’ll need.
Most weddings require banns to be read in church beforehand, usually arranged around four months ahead of the date.
Read more on the Church of England’s Your Church Wedding site, including full legal requirements.
If you live in one of our parishes but are marrying elsewhere, you may still need your banns called here. Find out more on our Calling Banns page.
What Happens Next
Get in touch with our office, and we’ll arrange a time to meet. We’ll talk through dates, the church that feels right for you, and what preparation involves. Nothing needs to be decided on that first call.
As part of your preparation, we offer every couple The Pre-Marriage Sessions, a course from Care for the Family. It’s four sessions covering the things that make the biggest difference to a marriage, communication, expectations, conflict, and more, and it’s there for any couple, whatever your background or beliefs.
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