Why get married at a Church?

There are lots of reasons for getting married at a Church, here are just a few:

  • A Church Wedding will add a spiritual dimension to your Marriage.
  • The ceremony includes God, and looks to him for help and guidance.
  • God’s blessing is the main reason for many couples, regular churchgoers or not.
  • You can make amazing vows, or promises, in a Church.
  • God and your Church are there for you, to care for you and help you keep your vows.

Can we get married at St Edmund’s?

A fairly recent change in the Law (the ‘Marriage Measure’, 2008) now means that a couple may be married at the church of a parish with which they have a genuine ‘Qualifying Connection’, even if they do not live, or worship there now.

The ‘Qualifying Connections’

1. One of the intending couple:-
(a) was Baptised† in the parish; OR …
 
(b) has been Confirmed†; and the Confirmation is recorded in a church register book of the parish, because he or she was prepared for Confirmation in the parish; OR …
 
(c) has at any time since birth lived in the parish, as his or her usual place of residence, over a continuous period of at least 6 months; OR …
 
(d) has at any time habitually attended public worship† in the parish over a continuous period  at least 6 months; OR …
 
2. The parent of one of the intending couple:-
 
(a) has at any time lived in the parish, as his or her usual place of residence, over a continuous period of at least 6 months during the lifetime of his or her child (one of the intending couple); OR …
 
(b) has at any time habitually attended public worship† in the parish over a continuous period of at least 6 months during the lifetime of his or her child (one of the intending couple); OR …
3. The parent or grandparent of one of the intending couple was married† in the parish.
† all of these mean Church of England services.

Christian Marriage and Divorce

The question of further marriage in Church of divorced people during the lifetime of a former spouse is a vexed one.

Within a secular society where divorce is, sadly, regarded almost as a norm, it is not an easy pastoral situation for the Church.

The Church has to find a way of balancing the teaching of Christ – that marriage is the voluntary union for life of one man and one woman, entered into by mutual and free consent – with its loving concern for those who have tried and failed and honestly want to try again.

At St Edmund’s, Downham Market, the way we would offer this ministry is through the special SERVICE OF PRAYER AND DEDICATION FOLLOWING A CIVIL MARRIAGE – often popularly referred to as a ‘SERVICE OF BLESSING’.  (This is the form of Service that was chosen by HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES & THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL.)

In this Service of Prayer & Dedication Following a Civil Marriage the couple, already married according to Law, acting as their own tribunal of conscience bring their union to God in prayer, and the Church prays with them and for them.

“You stand in the presence of God as man and wife to dedicate to him your life together, that he may consecrate your marriage and empower you to keep the covenant and promise you have solemnly declared” (introduction to the Service).