Weddings

Your marriage in the Free Church of England

Getting married in church is a sign to your friends, family and most importantly to each other that you are ready to make a public declaration of love and commitment in front of those who love you and are part of your life together, including God.

During the service you will make vows promising to love each other throughout your lifetime and stick together through thick and thin. The Minister will ask for God's blessing on your marriage and there will be readings, hymns, prayers and a short talk.

If you have decided to get married in church it makes sense to spend some time attending the church you have chosen and getting to know the person who will take your service. Rev. Hall will probably offer you some kind of preparation in order to help you as you start your married life. When the honeymoon is over , and it will end at some point - the church community should be able to offer you support and help too if you need it.

Just a few things about weddings you may not know.

Christian marriage is considered to be a sacrament - a channel through which God communicates his grace (generosity) to human beings. 

Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding in Cana and in Genesis we read that God created a man and then immediately realised it was not good for him to be alone and Eve was created to be his wife.

..If you choose to get married in a non-Church setting such as a Hotel or Registry Office your ceremony is not allowed to have any religious overtones at all. So no hymns or readings from the bible, no prayers or blessings. However if you have a civil ceremony we can offer you a service of blessing in church. 

Services of Blessing and Thanksgiving.

If you are to be married in a civil ceremony you can ask your Rev. Hall for a service of blessing, officially called an Order of Prayer and Dedication after a Civil Marriage. Rev. Hallwill be very pleased to help you plan the service and will advise you about how it is best suited to your circumstances. It will be a special service and may follow straight after the Civil Marriage itself. You could have lots of guests, special clothes, flowers and a reception or you can have a simple service with a few loved ones.

During the service you can have your rings blessed, affirm your commitment to one another and the priest will pray for your marriage. As you are already married rings are not exchanged and you are expected to come into church together.

A Service of Thanksgiving can be held to celebrate an anniversary, after a time of separation or difficulty in a marriage or when a number of couples reaffirm their vows together. For more information please contact Rev. Hall or click the contact button on the left.