Weddings
Congratulations – we’re delighted that you are thinking about getting married! We will do our best to tailor-make a wedding service that’s just right for you.
St Alphege is a beautiful, grade I listed building and is ideal for a traditional church wedding. Our wedding services fit all budgets, so don’t hesitate to be in touch.
Our choirs offer professional music, in the English choral tradition, for those who wish it, as well as a warm welcome to people of all ages and backgrounds.
We love taking wedding services, and we are committed to helping lifelong marriages flourish. All wedding couples take part in a preparation day with the clergy and experienced church members, exploring the meaning of marriage. Many of the participants say how enjoyable and rewarding this day is!
Since marriage is a legal ceremony, there are certain legalities that have to be met in order to get married. Anyone can get married in church, as long as they have a qualifying connection (for example, having been baptised here or a family connection, or attending regularly for six months). You can find out about this, and about the service itself, by looking at the Church of England weddings website.
Blessings
It is possible for those who have been married before to be remarried depending on circumstances, following guidelines from our Bishop; so please do ask us. We can also celebrate services of blessing or thanksgiving with couples who have had a civil ceremony.
Towards a More Inclusive Church
At our recent church council meeting we warmly welcomed the decision by the General Synod of the Church of England to allow pastoral use of Prayers of Love and Faith. Prayers of Love and Faith As society has come to recognise the diversity of human identity around issues of gender, sexuality and relationships, it becomes increasingly clear that this diversity echoes the richness of God’s creation and that we have a duty to celebrate all that reflects the breadth of God’s goodness and love. Whilst further national agreement is needed before we are able to hold stand-alone marriage blessings for same-sex couples, we look forward to that possibility, and in the meantime are pleased to discuss what we can offer – in the light of a resource that is designed for a wide-range of situations, and which allows for a good degree of creativity in worship. To find out more please contact the parish office who will put you in touch with a member of our ministry team.
And a note on the Rainbow
It is curious that the LGBT movement has adopted the rainbow as its symbol. This dates back to 1978 when the pride flag was created by artist Gilbert Baker who gave each of the eight stripes its own meaning. To him this ‘flag in the sky’ was a natural place to turn when thinking about the spectrum of human sexuality and relationships. More recently we may have noticed a variation most often called the pride ‘diversity flag’ which seeks to recognise the often-overlooked role of people of colour in fighting for justice and equality – the triangular shape indicating a sense of movement or progress. Of course, for Jewish, Christian, and Muslim peoples, the rainbow is something we equate with Noah and God’s promise of mercy. We may see the two coming together in Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s ‘Rainbow People of God’ – a vision celebrating both our diversity and essential unity as God’s children – each one of us dependent on God’s mercy and grace. We may also wish to note that, scientifically speaking, the whole spectrum is an essential part of what we simply know as light – the universal symbol of truth, hope, and love.
Revd Nick Parker, Priest-in-Charge (Rector Designate)
Please email your contact details (including phone number) to the Parish Office for more information on booking your wedding or blessing.
We will pray for you as you continue to prepare for your marriage:
Lord of love, we pray for this couple.
Be with them in all their preparations
and on their wedding day.
Give them your love in their hearts
throughout their married life together,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.