Weddings
If you're thinking of getting married - Congratulations!
We'd love you to come and talk with us about it. Click on www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/weddings to find details of weddings and marriage within the Church of England.
Marriage has its origins in the creation of man and woman, and the Bible’s teaching is that the marriage bond is a lifelong bond between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. Those entering this way of life can expect the help of God to fulfil his purposes in marriage throughout their life together. In the marriage ceremony, you will make a public declaration of lifelong commitment to love, honour and care for each other, in the presence of witnesses, many of whom will be those most respected and loved by you both, as you make your marriage vows. So, there is the commitment you make to each other, the commitment your family and friends make to support you, and God’s unending love and commitment to always be there for you.
Marriage Ceremonies which can be held at St. John’s:
A Service of Marriage
An authorised service for the marrying of couples, who have never been married before, and who have not been through any type of legal marriage service.
As well as the Service of Marriage we also offer the following services:
A Service of Prayer & Dedication
A simple service designed for couples who have had a Civil Marriage Ceremony in the UK or abroad, and want to have a church service afterwards.
A Service of Thanksgiving of a Marriage
This is a service for those who wish to renew their marriage vows.
Frequently asked questions:
How can we book a Wedding?
Contact the Church Office on admin@stjohnshildenboro.co.uk in order to arrange a meeting with our vicar, preferably many months before the planned wedding date. This first meeting is also a time for you to ask any questions you may have.
How do we qualify to get married in your church?
One or both of you must live within our Parish boundary (if you are unsure of this please ask).
OR
One or both of you or your family must have an association to our Parish (if you are unsure of this please ask).
Do we have to have been baptized to get married in church?
No. It is not a legal requirement for you to have been baptized, to hold your marriage ceremony here in our Parish.
Is it possible for us to hold our wedding on any day of the week?
Yes. As long as the Church of your choice is free and the vicar agrees, it is possible for this to take place on any day of the week, but please be aware that Saturday is the most popular day to hold a wedding & Sunday times are limited.
I’m divorced, can I get married in your church?
Your Church wishes you a lifetime of love that grows within God's protection. We recognise that some marriages do fail for all sorts of sad and painful reasons. If either of you is divorced this does not invariably mean you cannot be married in church and you will need to discuss your situation with our vicar, John Chandler. At that point, we can decide whether a wedding can take place in Church or whether we offer a service of Thanksgiving (very like marriage service but without vows) following on from a civil ceremony.
Foundations for Marriage course
We are committed to supporting marriage. With this in mind, all couples planning a wedding at St. John’s are very strongly encouraged to attend our Foundations for Marriage course. This takes place at the home of Suzanne and Nick Andrews and consists of two evenings and one Saturday usually in early spring. The vicar will discuss this with you and give you full details at your first meeting. For more information please click here.
Marriage Masala
We are also committed to encouraging marriages that have been going for some time. For more information please click here.
Those facing marriage difficulties
We are always ready to meet and pray with any couples facing difficulties in their marriages.