Getting Married?

At St Mary’s, we love to celebrate gift of marriage and look to support and enable couples to plan and prepare for their life together as husband and wife.
 
A wedding is one of life's great moments, 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.  Marriage is intended to be a creative relationship that is life-long where husband and wife grow together in love and trust and are united with one another in heart, body and mind.
 
WHO CAN MARRY AT ST MARY’S CHURCH?
A couple have the right to be married in the parish church of a parish where one or both them are resident or entered on the church electoral roll.
 
The Marriage Measure 2008 has extended these rights.  To find out if you live in our parish or to confirm that you are eligible to marry at St Mary’s, contact the Parish Office on 01962 881879.
 

LEGAL PRELIMINARIES
Banns of Marriage
This is a public announcement of your intended marriage.  The banns are 'published' by being read aloud during the service on three Sundays preceding the wedding ceremony.  The congregation is invited to register objections if they have any.  We would warmly welcome you to come and hear your Banns read, and encourage you to come on at least one of the Sundays
 
Banns need to be published within the three months before your wedding date.
 
If one partner lives outside the parish boundaries, then banns also need to be read at his or her parish church.  There is a cost involved (as set by the Church of England) in the reading of the Banns as well as for the Banns Certificate.
 
Common Licences & Superintendents Registrar’s Certificate 
A common licence may be required if one or both partners are of foreign nationality (EEA nationals only).  This can be a rather lengthy process and it is imperative that it be started as soon as possible, so as not to interfere with your wedding plans.  It is advised that whoever is from a foreign country should get written notification from their prospective embassy stating that their marriage in the United Kingdom will be recognised in their country.  There is a cost involved in this process. 
 
If one or both parties are non-EEA Nationals the Superintendent Registrar’s Certificate (SRC) is now the required legal preliminary to marry in the Church of England.  Non-EEA nationals can no longer be married in the Church of England by common licence but must apply to a designated civil register office for a Superintendent Registrar’s Certificate – which will authorise them to marry in the Church of England.
 
MARRIAGE PREPARATION
We hold two marriage preparation mornings throughout the year, where you have the chance to spend a full morning with us thinking through various aspects of getting married as well as the practical elements associated with your special day.  During the months before your wedding you will be invited to meet with the member of Clergy who will be taking your wedding and work with them looking at the service elements, selecting readings and prayers and becoming familiar with how the service will work, where you’ll stand, what will be said etc. For details about our Marriage Preparation Mornings contact the Parish Office on 01962 881879.
 
WHAT’S IT COST?
Wedding fees are determined by the Church of England and are revised each year.   There may be additional fees within St Mary’s based on what you require for your wedding ceremony (i.e. flowers, bells, sound and musicians, service booklets, etc.)
 
For more details, please contact the Parish Office who will be pleased to help and advise on 01962 881879 or email admin@worthyparishes.org.uk. ​