Weddings
Weddings
A wedding is one of life’s great events. It is a time of solemn commitment, of celebration and of new beginnings. At Saint Peter’s we are glad to be able to contribute to such an occasion. In the Bible, we read how Jesus Himself blessed a marriage with His presence, at Cana in Galilee.
For Christians, a wedding goes beyond the public signing of the registers. In coming to church to get married, the bride and groom seek the blessing of God for their married life together. Christians believe that this blessing is the source of a life-long union between husband and wife. From it springs love between partners, and the support they should have for one another ‘for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health’, as the Marriage Vows express.
But there also is a legal side to this joyful service of celebration: the bride or groom must live in the Parish of Upton cum Chalvey or be a regular worshipper at Saint Peter’s. Bride and groom must be free to marry one another, that is, not related to one another or not previously married. In order to establish this by law, they will need to apply for a marriage license from the Church, or for banns to be read in Saint Peter’s. The marriage needs to be witnessed by two people. There is a fee for the issuing of a marriage license, the reading of banns, and the wedding service.
In preparation for a wedding, a member of the clergy will meet the bride and groom to discuss the purpose and meaning of a Church wedding. If you would like to request a wedding at Saint Peter’s Church, please contact one of the clergy.