Weddings at St. Nicolas Church

A wedding in church is a very special occasion. As well as undergoing the legal formalities associated with marriage, it gives the bride and groom the opportunity to make their vows to each other before God and for them and their families and friends to give thanks to God and to ask God's blessing on the new relationship.

"Marriage is intended by God to be a creative relationship, as his blessing enables husband and wife to love and support each other in good times and in bad, and to share in the care and upbringing of children. For Christians, marriage is also an invitation to share life together in the spirit of Jesus Christ. It is based upon a solemn, public and life-long covenant between a man and a woman, declared and celebrated in the presence of God and before witnesses." - Introduction to the Marriage Service

Can I get married at St. Nicolas?

At present, you may get married at St. Nicolas if at least one of the partners is either resident in St. Nicolas parish or on the church electoral roll.

The General Synod of the Church of England has recently voted to relax these qualifications in future, so that those who can demonstrate a clear personal connection with the church can also get married there. However, full details of the new rules have not yet been published.

How do I arrange to be married at St. Nicolas?

Our weekly Office Hour on Wednesday evenings provides an opportunity for you to talk with someone about arrangements for your wedding in church. See our contact page for details. Alternatively, contact one of the clergy, who will be glad to help.

My partner is divorced. Can we still get married in church?

The Christian ideal of marriage is a life-long, faithful partnership and the vows you will make during the service reflect that understanding. However, as humans we live in a very imperfect world where we sometimes make mistakes and fail. God is a God of new beginnings, and so the Church of England permits the marriage of divorced persons at the vicar's or officiating minister's discretion. At St. Nicolas each case is considered individually, so please contact the vicar to ask.

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Page last updated on 14th March 2008.