Holy Matrimony (Marriage)

Legally, you must have a so called "qualifying connection" to the church you want to get married in.

You can marry in a Church of England church if you can show that one of you:

• is currently resident in the parish, or
• has at any time lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months, or
• was baptised (christened) in that parish, or
• is confirmed and your confirmation was entered in the register of confirmations for a church or chapel in the parish, or
• has at any time regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months

or

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 

or

That one of your parents or grandparents:

• was married in the parish.

If you cannot demonstrate any of the above connections, you could create one, simply by attending your chosen church’s usual services at least once a month for six consecutive months. If you decide to do this, leave enough time after your attendance for the banns to be read before your wedding – about another two months should be enough.

All couples will need to show the vicar:

• a photo ID as proof of identity - preferably your driving licence.
• their passport as proof of citizenship. If you don’t have a passport, there are other documents which would be acceptable, so talk to the vicar about this.

You will also be asked to provide evidence of your connection to the church, such as utility bills which show you live or have lived in the parish, or your parents’ marriage certificate if they were married there, for example. The vicar will be happy to guide you on acceptable documents for your particular connection.

If either of you is not a British citizen, please get in touch with the vicar to discuss what documents you will need.

Most Church of England marriages will require banns to be published before the wedding can take place. You won’t need to arrange banns until about four months before your wedding date.

Your banns will have to be read in the parish where you are getting married, and in the parish where you are residents - in both parishes if you are residents in two different parishes.

For your banns to be published, you will need to meet the vicar in person who will check your documents as proof of your: identity, natinality, state, and residence.

If there is not enough notice given for the banns to be read before the marriage is due to take place, or in the case of the marriage of people who are not nationals of a country within the European Economic Area, or if one or both of you does not live in England or Wales, you will need a Common Licence from the Bishop of Salisbury.

Many in the Church of England believe that marriage is a Sacrament and as such is indissoluble - it is for life. The wedding ceremony clearly states: "Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder." (see Mark 10,9)

For this reason we regret but if one of you had a previous marriage or civil partnership and your previous partner is still alive, you will not be able to get married in our parish churches.

Fees change every year so please talk to the Vicar. In 2023, the Church of England fees are:

• £36 for your banns, payable to every parish where your banns are read;
• £18 for certificate of banns, payable to every parish where your banns have been read with the exception of the parish where you are getting married;
• £528 for the marriage service payable to the church where you are getting married.

By law, Church of England marriage services can only take place in a church or licensed chapel. The only exceptions are (emergency) weddings where one of the parties is terminally ill.

Vows are an essential and legal part of your wedding and cannot be modified, nor can anything be added to them - at every service the prescribe form must be used.

There are other parts of the ceremony which you can change. Please talk to the vicar and he will be happy to help you.