Weddings
A wedding is one of life’s great moments, a time of solemn commitment as well as good wishes, feasting and joy. St John tells us how Jesus shared in such an occasion at Cana, and gave there a sign of new beginnings as he turned water into wine.
Marriage is intended by God to be a creative relationship, as his blessing enables husband and wife to love and support each other in good times and in bad, and to share in the care and upbringing of children. For Christians, marriage is also an invitation to share life together in the spirit of Jesus Christ. It is based upon a solemn, public and life-long covenant between a man and a woman, declared and celebrated in the presence of God and before witnesses.
On their wedding day the bride and bridegroom face each other, make their promises and receive God’s blessing. The congregation are witnesses of the marriage, and express their ongoing support by their presence and prayers.
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or
rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does
not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes
all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13.4-7
Who can get married in Church?
You must be old enough. If you are under 18 years old you will need your parents' consent to marry and by law you cannot be married in the UK until you are 16.
You can marry in any Church of England church (of which St Mary’s is one) if you can show:-
-
That one of you:
-
has at any time lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months or
-
was baptised in the parish concerned or
-
was prepared for confirmation in the parish 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
Regularly attending normal church services in the parish would be being at either 8am or 10am services twice a month over the course of 6 months.
For more information you can view our full "Weddings in St Mary's Chartham" booklet please follow this link:
For a list of the fees that are payable please follow:
For a copy of the Intention To Marry form follow:
If you would like to enquire about having your wedding in St Mary's, please email our wedding administrator, Pippa Kiss - pippalou26@aol.com