At the beginning of Creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife.

What God has joined together let man not separate.

Mark 10:6-9

Marriage at St Mary’s
Marriages are very important, and St Mary’s is a great place to begin married life together.
You are able to get married at St Mary’s if –

• either the bride or groom live in the parish
• either the bride or groom are resident here during the reading of their banns.
• either the bride or the groom have lived in Weaverham or have a strong family or spiritual link with the Parish

If either of the couple has been married before and divorced, you still may be able to be married here, but the grounds and circumstances of the divorce will be looked into by the Vicar or officiating minister.

If you are thinking about getting married please contact us at the vicarage and we will begin preparing for the big day! Have a look at the Church of England Wedding web site here at faith hope love
We suggest you read through part of the Marriage Service first so that you can think about the promises you will be making to God and each other. Then read the process through which you need to go in order to make your big day as memorable as possible.
We have included Tips for planning a marriage service at St Mary’s and lots of advice on the content of the service.

The Marriage Service
A Christian marriage service is a great event as we celebrate your love for one another and God’s love for us in Jesus.

This is seen clearly in the following Words describing marriage and in the Declaration and Vows that are said at the service.

These words are used at the beginning of the service to describe marriage:
Marriage is a gift of God in creation
through which husband and wife may know the grace of God.
It is given that as man and woman grow together in love and trust, they shall be united with one another in heart, body and mind, as Christ is united with his bride, the Church.
The gift of marriage brings husband and wife together in the delight and tenderness of sexual union and joyful commitment to the end of their lives.
It is given 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 is a way of life made holy by God, and blessed by the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ with those celebrating a wedding at Cana in Galilee.
Marriage is a sign of unity and loyalty which all should uphold and honour.
It enriches society and strengthens community.
No one should enter into it lightly or selfishly but reverently and responsibly in the sight of almighty God.
N and N are now to enter this way of life.
They will each give their consent to the other and make solemn vows, and in token of this they will [each] give and receive a ring.
We pray with them that the Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen them, that they may fulfil God's purposes for the whole of their earthly life together.

The Declaration the bride and groom respond to:
N, will you take N to be your wife/husband?
Will you love her/him, comfort her/him, honour and protect her/him, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her/him as long as you both shall live?
Answer – I will

Vows that a bride and groom make to one another:
I, N , take you, N , to be my wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to God's holy law.
In the presence of God I make this vow.

One of the best things about being a vicar is being able to marry people in the church. We are here to help you in all your preparations so feel free to contact us we are also here to help you consider what marriage really is, we hope and pray that you will benefit from our process.

“Marriage is a gift of God in creation
through which husband and wife may know the grace of God.”