weddings

It’s great that you are thinking of getting married in church. We hope this page will answer some of your questions about having a traditional church wedding in St Bartholomew’s.

Can I get married at St Bartholomew’s ?

Yes, the good news is that in most cases you will be able marry here, though there are some factors we have to take into account. For example, you must have a qualifying connection with the church, such as living or growing up in the parish. You can also create a connection simply by attending our usual Sunday services at least once a month for a minimum of six consecutive months before we read your banns. Allowing time for your banns, you will need to start attending church at least seven months before your wedding day.

Divorce

We recognise that some marriages do fail for all sorts of sad and painful reasons. So in certain circumstances the Church of England accepts that a divorced person may marry again in church. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss this possibility.

Marriage blessings

The Church of England offers two services for married couples which can be described as ‘blessings’. One is a Service of Prayer & Dedication after Civil Marriage, the other is a Thanksgiving for Marriage. Contact us to discuss which one is right for you.

Save the date

The most popular times of year can get booked up well in advance, so please call us before you finalise the booking for your reception venue. Because of parish commitments we are not able to offer weddings on a Sunday, nor can we offer dates close to major Christian festivals, such as Easter or Christmas.

How much does it cost?

The basic cost of a wedding in St Bartholomew’s is £565 in 2021.
This covers the legal fees set by the Church of England nationally plus local charges for heating and verger. Additional fees will apply if you choose to have an organist or bell-ringers.

How do we arrange our church wedding?

Please get in touch with Barbara or Laura at vicar@stbartschipping.org.uk or ring 01995 61252. We will arrange to meet with you and your partner to chat about your plans and book your wedding.

To find out more about Church of England weddings in general visit yourchurchwedding.org