Weddings

If you are both aged over 18, or 16 if you have your parent’s permission, we are able to hold your wedding service in church. For this to happen in a very straightforward manner one of you must be baptised and live in the parish, or worship regularly at St Lawrence. Banns will then be called over three consecutive Sundays.

However, it is now possible to get married legally in the Church of England even if you do not live in the parish. As long as one of you is baptised and neither of you have been divorced, there is a relatively simple form to fill in that allows you to get married.

It is possible for people who have been divorced to be married in the Church of England, although there are some conditions. At St Lawrence the Parochial Church Council has given its approval for remarriage of those divorced to take place. However, for that approval to be given there are discussions that take place between the couple and the Priest in Charge with a female representative of the PCC. Those discussions are strictly confidential, with no one else involved or given information to. On the basis of those discussions the Priest in Charge with the PCC representative will either signal their approval or not for a marriage to take place at the church. The approval is given subject to the Bishop’s permission (which is normally given if such approval comes from the parish)

Of course you can also go to the registry office to make your legal contract of marriage and then come here with your certificate to have your marriage blessed.