Wedding Policy at St Peter’s Church, Oundle

Introduction

At St Peter’s, we make every effort to ensure that each wedding is special and unique. Every time Banns are read in church before the wedding day, as a congregation we pray for the couple about to be married; praying for their wedding day and their married life together. As the service says, “marriage is a gift of God”, and God is present on the wedding day and throughout married life.

1. The law states that any parishioner or member of the electoral roll (who has not been divorced) has a right to be married in church following the publication of Banns. In order to qualify for the Electoral Roll, the person must have attended St Peter’s “habitually” (for example, twice a month) over a period of six months. Also, a divorced person is permitted (at the discretion of the clergy) to be married in church after the publication of Banns. As in a civil ceremony, Banns are published over a 15-day (3 Sunday period, on the first three Sundays of the month preceding the wedding.
2. If a person resident in the parish wishes to be married in another parish, and therefore needs their Banns to be read at St Peter’s, the usual procedure will be followed after which a certificate will be issued. The certificate is collected, paid for and passed on to the minister taking the service.
3. The Sacristan ensures that the Banns Book is left open on the desk in the vestry with the services register for the clergy to use.
4. A person who lives outside the parish and is not a member of the church but has a past connection with the parish may be married by licence obtained from the Archbishop’s office. The General Synod of the Church of England is currently revisiting the law regarding Banns, Licence and Residency in order to increase flexibility.
5. Those who do not come into either of the above categories are not legally permitted to be married in the church.
6. The initial contact with the couple is with the clergy who take details and give information regarding order of service, fees, preparation etc. A further meeting is arranged to go through the content of the service, seeking to answer the question: “what is Christian marriage?” An annual Deanery marriage preparaion morning is held at St Peter’s and couples are strongly encouraged to attend.
7. A rehearsal will be held before the wedding service.
8. The statutory fees are paid a month in advance and the local charges are payable at the rehearsal.
9. Photography and video is permitted but the photographers should be sensitive to the occasion.
10. Confetti is permitted in the churchyard and an additional charge is made to pay for confetti sweepers!
11. Good weather is not guaranteed, but the roof does not leak.
    

Footnote

From 01.10.08

The Church of England Marriage Measure received the Royal Assent on 22nd May 2008. This measure enables a church to offer the same welcome to a couple who wish to marry there and who can demonstrate a straightforward connection with the parish as it does who live in the parish itself, without the couple having to apply for a Licence.

For example, if a person was baptised or confirmed in the parish or has lived in the parish for at least six months or has at any time worshipped in the church for at least six months or whose parents have resided and/or worshipped in the parish for at least six months or whose parents or grandparents were married in the parish.

RO/smc
Last revised - June 2008