Getting Married at S. Anne’s Church
S. Anne’s is a beautiful medieval church in a wonderful setting. It isn’t surprising that we receive a great many requests for marriage services. It is hoped that the following guidelines will help couples planning their wedding.
Those who wish to be married in church come on the understanding that they are undertaking Christian marriage. This is a distinctive understanding in which God is seen as an ever-present partner in the relationship—that which binds the couple together. This leads to a relationship which is life-giving, and life-long.
The right to be married at S. Anne’s has, until recently, been restricted to the following:
- Those who live within the ecclesiastical parish of Woodplumpton.
- Those who live outside the parish but whose names are entered on the electoral roll of the parish. This is a list, held by the church and renewed every six years, of those who worship regularly at S. Anne’s. Those wishing to be considered for membership of the electoral roll should have been worshipping for at least six months prior to application.
Occasionally couples seek marriage where one or both parties have a former married
partner still living. Marriage in these cases can only be considered under exceptional
circumstances. Please speak to the officiating minister as soon as possible for full
details.
At least one partner must be baptised .
Under the new Marriage Measure this has now changed. The new Marriage
Measure is printed below.
Preparing to be married is a lengthy and sometimes complex business!
Wedding preparations involve
- Regular Worship
- Meetings with the officiating priest
- Planning of the Order of Service
- Planning of Music, Flowers, and other aspects of the service.
- A Rehearsal, usually in the week prior to the wedding.
All this will be dealt with during Wedding Preparations.
Photography and Video Recording.
Please note that S. Anne’s is a small medieval building. Whilst picturesque, it is very important that the occasion of a wedding is not spoilt by over-fussy arrangements to do with photography or video recording. Both are permitted, but there are strict guidelines to be adhered to. Video Cameras should remain in a static position by the font for the whole of the service, and no flash photography at all is permitted during the service. Photography is permitted in the vestry during the signing of registers, and video cameras may relocate for this also. Moving around during the service is strictly prohibited. It is the responsibility of the couple to ensure that those taking pictures and recording the service are made aware of this.
Music and Flowers
Here at S. Anne’s we are fortunate to have an extremely talented and creative flower team who will be happy to discuss your requirements. We will also be happy to recommend an organist; the church choir and a soloist are also available. Costs for these—and for the wedding as a whole—are set both by the Church Commissioners and the Parochial Church Council every year, and are available on request.
Check list
· Have banns been called, both at S. Anne’s and any other relevant churches? These are the parish church(es) in the parish(es) in which you live, if outside the parish of Woodplumpton. If in doubt we can help, or you can go to www.achurchnearyou.com and follow the prompts.
or
has a licence been granted? By whom?
- Has an organist been booked?
- Has an order of service been agreed and put together?
- What arrangements are made for flowers?
- Has a rehearsal been arranged?
The Marriage Measure (comes into effect 1st October 2008)
We understand that there are many couples who would like to marry in a church that has special significance for them, through family or other close connections. So from the 1st October 2008, the Church of England has made it easier for couples to do just that.
From 1st October in order to marry in the parish church of a parish other than the one where you or your fiancé(é) are living, without the need for a Special Licence, you or your fiancé(é) will need to demonstrate just one of the following 'qualifying connections'.
That:
- One of you was baptised in the parish concerned (If you were baptised and confirmed at the same time, the provisions on confirmation rather than baptism apply)
- One of you has been confirmed, and was prepared for confirmation in the parish
- One of you has at any time lived in the parish for at least 6 months
- One of you has at any time regularly attended public worship in the parish for at least 6 months
Or:
- One of your or your fiancé(é)’s parents has lived in the parish for at least 6 months at any time after you were born (or, in the case of your fiancé(é)’s parents, at any time after your fiancé(é) was born)
- One of your or your fiancé(é)’s parents has regularly attended public worship in the parish for at least 6 months at any time after you (or your fiancé(é)) were born.
- A parent or grandparent of you or your fiancé(é) was married in the parish.
In all cases - i.e. worship, baptism, confirmation or marriage - this applies only to Church of England services.
Even if you cannot demonstrate any of the above connections, we want to help you explore whether it may still be possible for you to marry in your special church. Talk to your vicar well in advance to discuss the options open to you.