Weddings
St Peter & St Paul’s is a place where love is celebrated and lifelong commitments are blessed. Our church offers a beautiful and welcoming setting for couples to exchange their vows, surrounded by family, friends, and a sense of sacred tradition. We are here to guide you in planning a meaningful and memorable ceremony that reflects your love and faith.
Getting married at St Peter & St Paul's
We are delighted that you are interested in being married in our beautiful Church. Weddings have been celebrated here for over 900 years, so you will be part of a long tradition. The process can seem quite lengthy, so please read the Guidance Notes that will guide you through the process. Please do ask us any questions you might have.
Marriages information
Preparation for marriage takes about eight months. There are legal requirements that need to be satisfied before a marriage can take place. As the Established Church, the Church of England gives a person, with no former partner still living, the right to be married in the parish church where they are resident (you must have lived there for six months or more). However, you can marry at a church
which is not your local parish church if you can prove a qualifying connection to the church you wish
to be married in.
These include:
-
One of you was Baptised or prepared for Confirmation in the parish
-
One of you has lived in the parish for six months or more
-
One of you has at any time regularly (at least once, but preferably twice a month) attended public worship in the parish for ideally for a year but for not less than six months before your
-
Banns are read. A register is kept of attendance at our Services to satisfy this legal requirement. Please note that you must have satisfied this qualification before your Banns are read so you will need to start attending our Services at least eight months before your wedding
-
One of your parents has regularly attended public worship there for six months or more in your lifetime
-
Your parents have lived in the parish for a period of at least six months since you were born
-
Your parents or grandparents were married in the parish
If you have a qualifying connection you will be required to provide evidence for this. If this involves searches in registers, you may be required to pay a fee for this.
If either of you have been divorced, it may still be possible for you to be married in Church but there will be additional forms to complete and we will need to see your Decree Absolute. Please contact us for further details.
If you are to be married at a Registry Office, you can celebrate your marriage with a service of blessing in the Church.
Contact us
