Weddings at Christ Church
You can marry at Christ Church if you can show that you have at any time lived in the parish for more than six months, or if you were baptised or confirmed at All Saints or have at any time regularly attended church services at All Saints for a period of at least six months (attending at least every other week).
Additionally, we are happy to celebrate the marriages of those whose parents have lived in the parish for a period of six months or have regularly attended services for a period of six months. We are also able to welcome those whose parents or grandparents were married in the parish.
If one of you has been married before it may still be possible for you to be married in church but there are certain preliminaries to be carried out.
Please be mindful of booking anything until the legal preliminaries are set.
If you’re thinking of getting married, first of all may we offer you our congratulations. You’ll find lots of useful information on this page but we’re also very happy to answer your questions in person or over the phone. Just click below to get in touch.
Marriage Preparation
At Christ Church wedding couples meet first with the Revd Jonathan Haynes to discuss their plans. They are then invited to private marriage preparation sessions.
There are four separate sessions held over a six week period, each lasting up to an hour.
Before the sessions couples are sent a link to an online questionnaire and the answers to the questions by both bride and groom form the basis of the marriage preparation discussions.
Key topics for discussion can include Finances, Children, Hobbies and Lifestyle, Work Life Balance and Aspirations.
Spirituality is also an important element of the discussions.
Banns and Wedding Fees
Banns are an ancient legal tradition and have been read out every week in churches across the land for millions of couples, over many centuries.
After your forthcoming marriage is announced, the congregation may be invited to pray for you both. It can be quite special and moving to hear this, so you are warmly invited to come along together and or with family and friends to hear them read, do go along if you can.
Banns need to be read in the parish where each of you lives as well as the church in which you are to be married, if that is somewhere else.
You must have your banns read out in church for three Sundays during the three months before the wedding. This is usually done over three consecutive Sundays but does not have to be.
NB: If one or both of you is a not a British national you will require a Superintendent Registrar’s Certificate to marry, rather than have banns read. Please speak to the vicar about this if this applies to you.