Weddings & Blessings after a civil ceremony

Getting married in church is a very special event, not only are a couple beginning their new life together before their families and friends, but also God's blessing is sought for this new couple.

All of our churches host weddings and we strive to make your "big day" personal for you.

Because we believe that Christian marriage is special we will arrange to meet with you at least twice before your wedding day. In addition there will be a rehearsal, usually the evening before your wedding.

Of course because we are churches and not just a venue there may be restrictions and limitations upon aspects of the service that you might want, or upon dates and timing, but all that can be discussed and arranged when you meet with the minister.

How far in advance should you book the church? Well, some people book with just a few months to go and some with several years in hand, but we do ask that whenever you book, you provide a £200 deposit to secure your date and time.

People often have questions about how much the full fees are or if a church wedding is still possible if they have been married before, again all these will be covered if you contact the Churchwarden of the church concerned. For contact details please see About Us.

Please also contact the Churchwarden too if you would like to make an enquiry about a Blessing after a Civil Marriage.

More information on weddings in general is available from the Church of England's website.

wedding-bride and groom

Wedding couples from outside the Knightley benefice

Do I qualify to Marry at one of the churches?

An engaged couple are welcome to be married in church in a parish if just one of these applies:

    one of them was baptised or prepared for confirmation in the parish;
    one of them has ever lived in the parish for six months or more;
    one of them has at any time regularly attended public worship in the parish for six months or more;
    one of their parents has lived in the parish for six months or more in their child’s lifetime;
    one of their parents has regularly attended public worship there for six months or more in their child’s lifetime;
    their parents or grandparents were married in the parish.
    (All of these refer to Church of England services)

If you do not meet one of these requirements then it may still be possible, please speak to the Churchwarden to explore the possibilities.

Special Licences

If you have been in contact with us and you have been advised to obtain a Special Licence in order to proceed with your marriage, then please follow the link below to the Faculty Office of the Church of England to obtain an application form for the relevant license.

The Faculty Office

Banns of Marriage Application

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and When

We meet for our Sunday services in five Church Buildings - well, six including a small chapel (details below). You can find the plan of our services here. Take a look at the online diary to see what service is happening where and when. We recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you find a parking space (our church buildings predate the car and the need for carparks) and to find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone and handed anything you need to guide you through the service.

Some of our churches serve tea, coffee and biscuits following the service so don't dash off, it is a great way to meet people, or simply take time to find your bearings. All refreshments are free.

Plan your journey:
Visit the Our Churches page and click on the name of the church you want, at the bottom of the page you will find a what3words link which will open a map showing you precisely where the church building is.

Alternatively, Open Google Maps

Accessibility: If you need assistance, please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. There are disabled toilets in Badby church.

Our Service

The main service begins with a warm welcome from one of our team members. The service might be led by Malcolm (our Rector) or one of the Ministry Team or even a visiting member of clergy. We will sing a hymn or song, hear a short passage read from the Bible and the leader will then explain what that passage is all about - how God speaks to us through his Word and how we can apply it to our lives. We will pray and join in some responses (you don't have to if you don't feel it is appropriate) and there might be a short symbolic meal called Communion. During the service, there may be a baptism which is when we welcome someone into our Church fellowship and family. Of course, you don't have to do any of these things, they might seem strange the first time you encounter them, so take your time and don't feel any pressure.

bible-1281216 1920

What about my kids?

Children and young people are very welcome in our church buildings and services.

Children stay with their parent or grown-up throughout the service and we really value worshipping God all together as a family.

Getting Connected

Small Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Come and join us at our Evening Service of The Word or for a coffee morning in Badby church.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays and week day events run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team, why not speak to someone on the welcome team at church or contact us through the Contact Us page.