Marrying in church is personal, meaningful, spiritual and beautiful, not just legal. Promises are made within a supportive community of family and friends and the Church building brings the significance of God’s presence and love through the ages.
We would love to welcome you to St Leonard’s for your wedding and will work with you to to ensure that your wedding is a memorable and happy occasion.
*Photo by SYNG on Unsplash
What are the requirements?
You can marry in St Leonard’s if you can show that at least one of you:
- has at any time lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months (to check if you live within our parish boundaries, follow this link).
- was baptised in the parish
- was prepared for confirmation in the parish
- or, has at any time regularly gone to normal church services in St Leonard’s for a period of at least 6 months.
You can also marry in our parish church if you can prove one of the following connections:
- 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, if one of your parents or grandparents was married in the parish.
If you are new to the area, or just haven’t quite got round to visiting St Leonard’s yet, we invite you to come along and join us for a service on a Sunday morning and look forward to seeing you!
Planning a Wedding
We will help you to plan your wedding service. A wealth of information can be found on the Church of England’s Wedding website.
We strongly recommended that you agree a date and time with the Priest in Charge before making a reservation for your wedding reception. Availability of the church and the Priest cannot be guaranteed.
For further enquiries about marriage at any one of our churches, including information on fees and availability, please contact us.
Marriage Banns
If you are to be married in one of our churches, or if you are to be married at another Church of England church and one or both of you are resident in our parish, it is a legal requirement for your Banns of Marriage to be called. Banns will be called over three Sundays within three months of the date of your wedding. This will usually take place on Sundays at the normal 9.30am Service, which you are warmly invited to attend.
For further enquiries about marriage banns, please contact us.
Wedding Blessings
Many couples who have had a civil wedding decide they would like to dedicate their marriage to God in church soon afterwards. Couples can have their marriage blessed in church, whether they got married in the UK or abroad.
The Blessing ceremony is a simple service acknowledging the commitments already made during a civil ceremony and asking for God’s blessing and guidance in your new life together. Because it is not a marriage service, banns are not required, there is no exchange of rings and there is no signing of the official marriage paperwork during the service.
If you are interested in having your marriage blessed at St Leonard’s, we would be very happy to have a chat. In the first instance, contact the Revd Helen Terry, who will be able to offer guidance on remarrying in church or having a blessing.
More information
For further enquires and to find out more about arranging a wedding, please contact us or, better still, come along to a Sunday Service and have a chat!
For more information about weddings and blessings in the Church of England, please click here.
St Leonard's Church, Thrybergh 