Can I Get Married at St. Wilfrid's?

St. Wilfrid's Church is a popular wedding venue and we rejoice that so many people wish to get married here.  Regulations regarding church weddings are complex and below you will find the basic guidelines however it is always worth contacting us and discussing the options.

  • You have the right to be married in the church of the (Anglican) parish in which you reside as long as neither party is divorced (see below).
  • You have the right to be married in any (Anglican) church to which you belong.  You 'belong' to a church through habitual attendance and by being admitted onto the church electoral roll.  In both of these cases you will get married by what is known as banns.
  • You may get married by Archbishop's License if there are strong pastoral reasons why you want to get married in a church other than their parish church.
  • You may also get married by Superintendent Registrar's Certificate.  This involves residency in the parish and the rules are complex and would need detailed discussion.
  • If either party to the marriage is divorced this need no longer be a bar on getting married however this is done solely on the conscience and discretion of the Parish Priest.  It is best, before any dates are arranged, to discuss this through with the Parish Priest.

At St. Wilfrid's to qualify to get on the electoral roll a person, and it does only need to be one of the two parties, must attend at least once a month for a minimum of six months.  After this period the person then applies to go on the electoral roll.  Only when this is done can the banns then be read.  This process takes a minimum of eight months.

These regulations are due to be changed in autumn 2008 making it easier for people to get married in churches other than where they live or worship however clergy have been advised not to take bookings based upon those regulations until such time as they have formally been passed.  Watch this space for more news later in the year.

When Can I Get Married?

By church law weddings can take place on any day of the week including Sundays and Holy Days between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. as long as they don't intefere with Divine Service.  Local custom, and the Parish Priest's stamina, may well put some limits on the possibilities so if your heart is set on getting married at St. Wilfrid's please book the wedding with us before booking the reception et al.

What Does It Cost?

Wedding fees are split between statuatory fees that are set by the church nationally and local fees charged by the individual parish.  These local fees include a basic parish charge for the use of the building which will include elements of heating, lighting, upkeep and maintenance costs.  This basic charge is a fixed part of the basic wedding costs.  On top of the statuatory and basic parish charge are items such as organist, choir and bells which you can decide whether to include them or not.

Current fees for 2008 are-

  • Publication of banns                £ 22       (Stat. fee)
  • Marriage Service                     £247       (Stat. fee)
  • Marriage Certificate                £   3.50   (Stat. fee)
  • Parish Charge                         £128       (Mandatory charge)

      Basic Marraige Cost                     £400.50

  • Organist                                £ 80
  • Choir                                    £150
  • Bells                                     £130
  • Total                                    £760.50

Please note that if you wish to use your own organist you may do so however the organist is still due his fee.  Also note that if the wedding is being videoed the organist's fee is double.  Finally please be aware that most of our bell ringers work and so it may not always be possible to have the bells if you are getting married mid-week.

Fees are payable at the wedding rehearsal and you will receive a full invoice at the wedding preparation meeting.

What Is My First Step?

The first thing you need to do is contact the Rector, you will find a way to do this by following the 'Contacts' tab above.  You will be asked to fill in a booking form that, in most cases, also acts as your banns form.  Banns are read on three Sundays, normally consecutively, prior to the wedding taking place and give people a legitimate opportunity to object to your marriage.  You will need to have banns read in the parish where you wish to mary and the parish(es) where the couple getting married reside.

What Happens Next?

In most cases weddings are booked a year or more in advance so, once the wedding is confirmed, there is little that needs to be done for a while.  If you live outside the parish and need to get on the electoral roll you will need to maintain regulat attendance so as to be eligible.  It is entirely your responsibility to ensure that the electoral roll criteria are met.

Approximately 6 months before the wedding the Rector will contact you to arrange dates for the reading of the banns, for your marriage preparation and wedding rehearsal.  Marraige preparation meetings are done in a group with others getting married at around the same time.  The Rector will also confirm whether you require the organist, choir and bells.

Dates in 2008

  • The following dates are definitely unavailable in 2008 - 

January 1st - 6th
January 13th
January 20th
February 6th
March 16th - April 6th
May 5th
May 17th
June 7th-8th
August 30th
October 3rd - 4th
October 16th - 25th
December 20th
December 24th-January 2nd

  • The following dates are in some way restricted -

February 7th - March 15th is Lent and all flowers must be removed after the service.
April 5th, wedding of Butler & Stoeckel at 2 p.m.
April 12th, wedding of Baker & Stennings at 4 p.m.
May 5th, wedding of Lefebvre & Tonge timet.b.c.
June 14th, wedding of Castille & Bergin at 1.30 p.m.
July 18th, wedding of Turnbull & Parr at 2 p.m.
July 26th, wedding of McGoun & Hollins at 3 p.m.
July 28th-Aug. 12th
August 29th, wedding of Oakes & Edwards at 3 p.m.
September 29th, wedding of O'Flaherty and Shaw at 2 p.m.
October 5th - 12th Harvest Week, Church is decorated all week.
October 11th, wedding of Pentland & McQuie

If you think you have booked a wedding for next year and it is not shown above please contact me immediately.  Other dates will be added as holiday dates are confirmed and further wedding bookings received.

Music

We have an excellent organist and choir at St. Wilfrid's as well as a top notch PA system.  We can also provide a CD of suitable music however there are also excellent music resources on the internet, just type 'Wedding Music' into Google or Yahoo.  Before making your finally decision about music please speak to our organist.

There are normally five opportunities for music at a wedding, not all which have to be taken up.

  • Before the Service:  Some couples like to choose specific music to be played before the Bride arrives.  Remember however that if you are also having the bells ringing any music inside the church will be playing second fiddle to the bells.
  • Entrance of the Bride:  This music tends to be more elegant than lively and many wedding Music websites will categorise music appropriately for entrance and exit etc.
  • Hymns:  The service will take up to three hymns and I wouldn't recommend less than two, unless you are not having any at all.  Hymn suggestions again can be found on the net or else speak to our organist.
  • Performances:  Some couple wish to include a piece of music, a song sung by a friend or a piece from a string quartet as a focal piece within the service.  This is normally fine however you will need to consult with the Rector.
  • Recessional Music:  At the conclusion of the service there is normally music whilst the bridal party make their way out of church.  This music tends to be loud and lively and, again, advice can be sought from the internet or our organist.

Flowers & Fings?

  • Flowers: A sheet is available outlining our guidelines for the use of flowers, where they can be put, what can be used, and equally importantly how they will be disposed of.  If there is more than one wedding in a day we strongly suggest that the couple involved co-operate on one set of decorations.
  • Car Parking: The is a reasonable amount of parking available on the grass verge opposite the lych-gate.  At weekends and during school holidays it is normally possible to park in the school carpark.
  • Confetti: We ask couples to insist that wedding guests use only bio-degradable or preferably natural confetti such as rose petals.  We also request that guests do not throw confetti in the graveyard but wait until they are beyond the lych-gate.