Getting marriad is a big thing!

Getting married is perhaps one of the biggest decisions we make in life. We all start with great hopes and expectations, of our partner, of our future and of the day itself. At Christ Church we understand exactly how you feel and want to make the whole marriage experience one which will stay with you for the rest of your life. This is why we offer, not just the wedding service itself, but also a marriage preparation course, which, we pray, will help to prepare you for both 'The Big Day' and also for your life together afterwards. We meet with the couple before the banns are read, discuss the order of service, and nearer the time we have a rehearsal to make sure that nothing goes wrong and everyone is feeling as clam as possible for the day itself.

Can we get married in your church?

Lots of people ask us that question, and for good reason, the building is ideal for weddings and the grounds are so nice that many couples have their wedding photos right outside the church. We'd love to say yes! to everyone, but we can't do that. There are regulations in the Church of England, just like the registry office, which govern who can or cannot be married in our church. This is what the basic criteria are:

• The couple need to be:
  over 18 years old
  not related to one another
  single or widowed
  and resident within our parish
  or on our electoral roll
  the time is convenient to the church

The new 'Qualification by Connection'

This has recently (October 2008) been introduced into the Church of England. There are a number of criteria, and it is best to contact us, but in essence, if you have a 'connection' with our church (Baptism, Confirmation, church attendance in the past, parents residence, or parents marraige etc), then it may well be possible (given the some of the other things above as well) to get married in Christ Church.

These are the basic criteria to get married in any Church of England church and we can guarantee that if you fulfil these we can do the wedding service. The further you move away from these the more difficult it is to get married in our church. We are not inclined to marry people who have been divorced in the lifetime of their previous partner. We 'never say never', but please remember what the basic criteria are as you approach us for a wedding, we do not want to build false hopes and then have you disappointed.