St. Margaret's Church Streatley

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Marriages

The Marriage Service is the gateway to the married state. In the service, bride and groom come before God to make a solemn and binding commitment to each other for life.

The Marriage Service itself is very simple.

In the first part the couple make their vows to each other and are pronounced "Man and Wife". In the second part of the service, the congregation prays for the couple's future life together.

The setting for the service can be as elaborate (organ, choir, bells, penguin suits) or as simple (vicar, couple, two witnesses) as the couple themselves choose to make it.

Q:	Who is qualified to be married at St. Margaret's?
A:	Where you can and can't get married is laid down by the law of the land. The law changed on 1st October 2008. In addition to the traditional rules for getting married in church:
	One of you lives in this parish or One of you has a long-standing connection with the Church such as entitles you to be on its Electoral Roll. You can now get married at St. Margaret's if: One of you was baptised in the parish. The name of one of you appears on the Confirmation Register of the parish. One of you has at any time attended worship in the parish for six months or more (i.e. not just the last six months). One of your parents has lived in the parish for at least six months during your lifetime (time in the womb doesn't count). One of your parents regularly attended worship in the church for six months during your lifetime. Your parents or grandparents were married in the church.

Q:	What if we already have children?
A:	Being unmarried parents or a single parent is no bar to a church wedding.

Q:	What if I am marrying some-one who is not a UK citizen?
A:	Not a problem. All this means is that you will marry by licence rather than by banns. (An anomaly in the law means that we can't re-marry a divorcee where either of the partners isn't a UK Citizen.)

Q:	What if one of us is divorced?
A:	Remarriage of divorcees can only be considered where one partner has not been previously married and where that partner lives in this parish or is on the Electoral Roll. Those who have been divorced can, however, ask for a service of Prayer and Thanksgiving after a Marriage. This usually follows the marriage itself which has taken place in a Registry Office. In this service husband and wife confirm their vows to each other in church and the Vicar kneels with them to ask God's blessing on their marriage. The service can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish.

Q:	What if we got married in Tahiti but now want something here?
A:	During the Interregnum contact Canon Stephen Purvis, Vicar of St Luke's, Leagrave, on (01582) 572 737.

Q:	How do we go about it?
A:	Step 1:	Ring the Vicar and fix the date.
	Step 2:	He will then put you in touch with a member of the congregation who will help you fill in the forms and will tell you all the questions about the service that we shall need answers to.
	Step 3:	Decide on the answers.
	Step 4:	Attend the rehearsal, usually two days before the wedding.
	Step 5:	Get Married

Q:	What will it cost?
A:	Fees tend to go up a bit each year. As a guide the whole service including: Choir (optional) Organist (optional) Bells (optional) costs about a £334.