Getting Married?
Thank you for considering one of our two churches for your wedding service.
Whether you are looking for a wedding ceremony, a service of dedication after a civil ceremony or a service of wedding blessing, we can help. Services can also incorporate the baptism of your child or children. Both of our churches are beautiful and suitable for wedding services and we would be delighted if you chose to celebrate your wedding day with us.
A wedding ceremony marks only the beginning of a marriage and it is a public witness before God to the love that two people have for each other. In a church wedding the vows and covenant you will make are a reflection of the promises that God has made to bless the world – the very essence of the sacrament of marriage reflects how God works in and through our human relationships, blessing us on our journey through life.
Guidelines for getting married in Church
The Church of England has clear guidelines about eligibility for marriage. These are legal requirements and in order to qualify to be married in either of our churches you must meet one or more of the following criteria:
✤ One of you must live in the Parish;
✤ One of you was either baptised or prepared for confirmation in the church concerned;
✤ One of you has at any time lived in the Parish for at least 6 months;
✤ One of you has regularly attended normal church services in either St Margaret’s or Holy Trinity for at least 6 months prior to making an application to be married
✤ One of your parents has at any time, after you were born, lived in the Parish for a period of at least 6 months;
✤ One of your parents has at any time, after you were born, regularly attended normal church services in the Parish Church for a period of at least 6 months;
✤ Your parents or grandparents were married in the Parish Church.
Charlotte and Lewis West
Contact us to find out more
If you meet any of these criteria then the first step will be to contact Gail at office@holytrinityandstmargarets.co.uk (01494 813254). We will then arrange for you to meet with Revd. Graham to confirm your eligibility, explain the procedure and to talk dates. Normally if living outside the parish we would require some evidence that you meet the alternative criteria.
As part of our wedding arrangements you will be invited to a Wedding Preparation morning (normally in February) along with other couples when we will go through the wedding service and all the details that will allow you to have a wonderful and stress free wedding
