Weddings
If you have just got engaged, congratulations! You will have a number of important things to plan for your forthcoming wedding. At the heart of the day will be the ceremony itself. If you are thinking of getting married at St Robert’s Pannal or St Michael’s Beckwithshaw, these pages are designed to help answer some of your questions.
Who can get married at St Robert’s or St Michael’s?
The Church of England has special rules regarding who can get married in a local church. Usually you need to either
live in the parish or be a regular member of the congregation. If your parents live in the parish you might be able to
use their address. To check which parish you live in, follow this link and enter your postcode.
If you are uncertain about whether you qualify you will need to speak to the Vicar. We will consider remarrying
divorcees, depending upon their particular circumstances. If either of you is divorced you will need to arrange a
meeting with the Vicar before booking a wedding.
How do I book a wedding?
To book a date contact Cheryl Sinclair (01423 870202). She will arrange to meet you, complete an “Application for Banns” and give you more information. We do require a non-returnable deposit of £50 at this stage. To avoid disappointment this should be done before booking your reception. Please note we do not conduct weddings on Sundays and the availability of choristers and bell-ringers is less certain on weekdays.
What happens next?
About three months before the service we ask you to contact us again to arrange a meeting with the Vicar, a rehearsal, and to begin planning the order of service. If your banns are being published (the most usual preliminary for church weddings) you will also need to contact the Vicar of any other parish in which one or both of you resides. They will also arrange to read your banns within three months of the ceremony and issue you with a certificate that this has been done. Please note the marriage cannot take place without this certificate.
What happens in the service?
The service usually lasts about ½ hour. It will include readings prayers and hymns, vows will be exchanged, the registers signed and a blessing given. There can be between one and three hymns (two is usual) and you may wish to choose the music for the entry of the bride, the signing of the register and the procession out at the end and. One Bible reading needs to be included. A second lesson can be added either from the Bible or another source. If a non–Biblical reading is chosen this must be approved by the Vicar in advance. Music and readings.
What “Order of Service” do we need?
Many couples arrange for an “Order of Service” to be printed along with other wedding stationary. Otherwise the Church can produce a simple, personalised, service sheet for a small additional cost. If you are arranging the printing ensure that you send the Vicar a draft and receive approval of the wording before printing. The Wedding Service includes a number of passages for the congregation which need to be included. For a sample service click here
What about flowers?
Lilies are not allowed in St Robert’s or St Michael’s Church. We ask that you leave a least one arrangement in Church for the Sunday Services. For contact details in St Robert’s Church, please click here
