Holy Matrimony

Marriage is a public commitment of love

Marriage in Church means you are asking for God's blessing on your union together,
and on your family.

Marriage is a gift of God through which husband and wife may grow together in the knowledge, love and service of God.
It is given that, united with one another in heart, in mind and in body, they may increase in love and trust. God joins husband and wife in life-long union as the foundation of family life (in which children are born and nurtured and) in which each member of the family, in good times and in bad, may find strength, companionship and comfort, and grow to maturity in love. Marriage enriches society and strengthens community."

The Church in Wales Marriage Service

When can we be married?

There has to be some consultation about dates and times, because we have to be certain that the church is available and that your wedding does not clash with someone else’s wedding.　

We also have to make sure that a priest will be available to marry you.　
We conduct marriage ceremonies between 8 o’clock in the morning and 6 o’clock in the evening.

We do not marry anyone between Palm Sunday and Easter Day.

Where can we get married?

You can marry in any of our churches if one or other of you lives in the parish. Our churches are St Mary’s, St Agnes’ and Holy Trinity. You can also get married in any of our churches if you live outside the parish but regularly worship in one of our churches and have your name on the Church electoral roll (membership list).

There are other possibilities under the Marriage (Wales) Act 2010

If you were baptised in a church in the Benefice
or
If you have your confirmation entered in the register book of confirmations for any church in the parish

or
If your parents or grandparents were married in the parish in an Anglican church according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church in Wales

If you have had your usual place of residence in the parish for at least six months. This can apply even if you no longer live in the parish

or
If your parent or parents had their usual place of residence in the parish for at least six months during your life time, or habitually attended public worship in that parish for at least six months

or
If you have habitually attended public worship in the parish for a period of at least six months..

What do we do next?

The first thing you need to do is to contact the Parish Office and speak to the Secretary.
The office is open Mondays and Thursdays 12pm to 3pm and Tuesdays 10am to 1pm
01639 883123

Legal Formalities

When you come to make arrangements for your wedding, you will be asked to prove your identity and your address. You can either be married by Banns (notice of your intention to marry read out in church for three Sundays) or by Licence (rarely necessary: quicker but more expensive than Banns).　
You will need to bring a driving licence or passport with you, or something that shows your current address and proves your nationality.
We need this for the bride and the groom.　
The usual waiting period before you can marry is three weeks.

The cost

The fees are reviewed by the Bishops of the Church in Wales every year, and the Parish Secretary will be able to give you more details.　

When you arrange your wedding you will be asked for a £50 deposit, which is non-refundable.

You can pay for the wedding over a period of months if you choose, by calling regularly at the Parish Office.

Each time you pay towards the wedding you will be given a receipt.

The vows

People often ask if they can write their own vows.

Marriage in Church is both a religious ceremony and a legal process.

The Marriage Service has been agreed by Parliament as an authorised legal as well as religious ceremony and so what happens during the service itself cannot be altered for each individual couple. 　

Services held in registered premises such as a hotel or Register Office are non religious and different rules apply.