A wedding is one of life’s great moments; a time of solemn commitment as you offer vows to each other which both of you intend keeping to the fullness of your married life, as a sign of unity and loyalty which all should uphold and honour as it enriches your life, and strengthens society and community
For Christians, marriage is also an invitation to share life together in the spirit of Jesus Christ. It is based upon a solemn, public and life-long covenant between a man and a woman, declared and celebrated in the presence of God and before witnesses of family and friends. Having a church wedding is a major step to take and should not be entered into lightly or selfishly, but reverently and responsibly in the sight of almighty God
Marriage is intended to be a creative relationship, as God’s blessing enables husband and wife to love and support each other in good times and in bad, and to share in the care and upbringing of children. Thus in marriage you will come together in the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, united with one another in heart, body and mind, as a way of life made holy by God
If you are considering honouring your life to together through the celebration of Christian marriage, you would be most welcome here at St John’s Baxenden. Why not come and join us at one of our services as a first step to taking your church wedding seriously, and get to know what we are like. You could also introduce yourself to the vicar and share your wedding considerations
General Guidelines
- Come to church and get a feel for the spiritual journey ahead
- Speak to a leader and we will give you an introductory pack with some information, advice and a small booklet about marriage, which you are expected to read through together
- We can then arrange an informal visit (during this visit we will talk through the booklet with you, this is also an opportunity to ask questions yourself)
- Our Wedding Administrator will then get in touch to arrange all the finer details and will be your point of contact
- Meet up for wedding rehearsal a couple of days before the wedding
- The Wedding day celebration 🙂
For further information on marriage and weddings please see the Church of England website