Arranging your marriage or baptism in St Giles or St Mary's Church:
If you live within the parishes of St Giles or St Mary's, have a close pastoral connection with the churches, or regularly attend services here then do please make contact with us about the services of Baptism or Marriage.
You can find out which is your local parish church at A Church Near You.
Marriage
This Church of England website Your Church Wedding has lots of helpful information about preparing for marriage.
We organise a special preparation event for couples who are getting married in our churches, and provide information and help with the content of the service, the choice of music, and the life you will share together as husband and wife.
Your marriages can take place at St Giles or St Mary's if one of the criteria listed below, under the guidelines set out by the Church of England, is fulfilled. Under these guidelines a couple may be married here if either of you can show one of the seven connections with the parishes.
That one of you:
That one of your parents, at any time after you were born:
That one of your parents or grandparents:
* The electoral roll is our membership list, made up of those who worship here regularly. People can join the electoral roll once they have attended St Giles or St Mary's regularly for six months, and if they intend to continue doing so.
You can find out which is your local parish church at A Church Near You.
Marriage
This Church of England website Your Church Wedding has lots of helpful information about preparing for marriage.
We organise a special preparation event for couples who are getting married in our churches, and provide information and help with the content of the service, the choice of music, and the life you will share together as husband and wife.
Your marriages can take place at St Giles or St Mary's if one of the criteria listed below, under the guidelines set out by the Church of England, is fulfilled. Under these guidelines a couple may be married here if either of you can show one of the seven connections with the parishes.
That one of you:
- was baptised in the parishes; or
- was prepared for confirmation in the parishes; or
- has at any time lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months; or
- has at any time regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months and is on the electoral roll*
That one of your parents, at any time after you were born:
- has lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months; or
- has regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months and been on the electoral roll*
That one of your parents or grandparents:
- was married in the parishes.
* The electoral roll is our membership list, made up of those who worship here regularly. People can join the electoral roll once they have attended St Giles or St Mary's regularly for six months, and if they intend to continue doing so.
Wedding Preparation Workshop
Each year our wedding couples are invited to participate in a fun and informal preparation session, run by Caroline, our Licensed Lay Minister.
This is an opportunity to explore your own thoughts and attitudes to marriage, to think about what a church wedding means, and to consider the important components of your wedding day. It is also a chance to share experiences and suggestions with other couples.
Our brides and grooms get much more out of the workshop than they expect to!
Each year our wedding couples are invited to participate in a fun and informal preparation session, run by Caroline, our Licensed Lay Minister.
This is an opportunity to explore your own thoughts and attitudes to marriage, to think about what a church wedding means, and to consider the important components of your wedding day. It is also a chance to share experiences and suggestions with other couples.
Our brides and grooms get much more out of the workshop than they expect to!
Baptism
Baptism (sometimes referred to as christening) involves an ‘initiation’ and welcome into the world church, represented by a local church with which you have a relationship.
If you live in the parishes of St Giles or St Mary's the baptism can take place here. If you have a close pastoral connection with either church or regularly attend services here, but do not live in the parish, then the baptism can take place here.
If you do not live in the parish and do not have a pastoral connection we suggest that you make contact with your local parish church, as it is important that the baptism takes place in a church community that can nurture your faith and welcome you to become part of its community.
Every child who is brought for baptism should have at least 3 godparents, 2 of whom are the same gender as the child. A person can only act as godparent if they themselves are baptised. Godparents are not necessarily the people who will care for your child should anything happen to you. Rather they should be people who will be there for your child and help them think about the bigger questions in life - questions of love, hope and faith.
For more information please visit Christenings - an informative website from the Church of England which is designed to answer most of the questions that families may have.
Baptism (sometimes referred to as christening) involves an ‘initiation’ and welcome into the world church, represented by a local church with which you have a relationship.
If you live in the parishes of St Giles or St Mary's the baptism can take place here. If you have a close pastoral connection with either church or regularly attend services here, but do not live in the parish, then the baptism can take place here.
If you do not live in the parish and do not have a pastoral connection we suggest that you make contact with your local parish church, as it is important that the baptism takes place in a church community that can nurture your faith and welcome you to become part of its community.
Every child who is brought for baptism should have at least 3 godparents, 2 of whom are the same gender as the child. A person can only act as godparent if they themselves are baptised. Godparents are not necessarily the people who will care for your child should anything happen to you. Rather they should be people who will be there for your child and help them think about the bigger questions in life - questions of love, hope and faith.
For more information please visit Christenings - an informative website from the Church of England which is designed to answer most of the questions that families may have.
To arrange a marriage or a baptism, or to find out more about what is involved,
please make contact with the Rector Rev David Herrick
