Wedding and marriage blessing services can be arranged throughout the year.
Marriage in church is open to those who are not already married, (or divorced with a previous spouse still living), are not related and are not under the age of 18 (or 16 with parental consent).
Anyone is welcome to be married at St Mary's providing that:
a) one or both of the parties is resident in the Parish
b) or one or both of the parties has worshipped regularly at St Mary's and has their name entered on the electoral roll of the Church
Many couples would like to marry at St Mary's because it has special significance for them, through family or other close connections. So from the 1st October 2008, the Church of England has made it easier for couples to do just that.
From 1st October 2008 in order to marry in the parish church of a parish other than the one where you or your fiance/e are living, without the need for a Special Licence, you or your fiance/e will need to demonstrate just one of the following 'qualifying connections'.
That:
One of you was baptised at St Mary's (If you were baptised and confirmed at the same time, the provisions on confirmation rather than baptism apply)
One of you has been confirmed, and was prepared for confirmation at St Mary's
One of you has at any time lived in the parish of Stone for at least 6 months
One of you has at any time regularly attended public worship at St Mary's for at least 6 months
Or:
One of your or your fiance/e's parents has lived in the parish of Stone for at least 6 months at any time after you were born (or, in the case of your fiance/e's parents, at any time after your fiance/e was born)
One of your or your fiance/e's parents has regularly attended public worship at St Mary's for at least 6 months at any time after you (or your finace/e) were born.
A parent or grandparent of you or your fiance/e was married at St Mary's.
Even if you cannot demonstrate any of the above connections, we want to help you explore whether it may still be possible for you to marry at St Mary's, so please contact the Rector well in advance to discuss the options open to you.
Banns of marriage is the formal announcement of an intended marriage on three successive Sundays before the wedding, when any objections to the proposed marriage may be made.
Marriages can take place on any day of the week throughout the year, although the six-week period immediately before Easter (Lent) is not encouraged. At least two months notice should be given of an intended wedding, but couples are encouraged to plan well ahead to be sure of the Church's availability.
Couples are invited to contact the Rector in the first instance and will be asked to participate in a planning and preparation session with other couples at the beginning of the year in which they plan to marry. A full rehearsal for a marriage ceremony will normally take place during the week before the event when the fees become payable.
The fees payable for a marriage service can be obtained by contacting the Rector.
Blessing of a marriage
The church is also available for a religious service following a civil marriage ceremony in cases where this is a further marriage for one or both parties. A service of blessing can be arranged without any of the legal preliminaries, providing that the civil marriage has previously taken place.
Couples who wish for a service of blessing are invited to contact the Rector to discuss their wishes and the arrangements that need to be made.
Preparation for a service of blessing will take place according to individual circumstances. A full rehearsal for a service of blessing will normally take place during the week before the event.
The fees payable for the blessing of a marriage can be obtained by contacting the Rector.
Banns of marriage
When couples arrange to marry at St Mary's the Banns are automatically read but they will also have to be read in any other parish where the couple live. Residents of Stone who are marrying elsewhere will have to ensure that Banns are read at St Mary's at least a month before the wedding, by arrangement with the Rector, for which a fee is payable.
Wedding Anniversaries
Anniversaries and other celebrations can be marked in church with a special service, by arrangement with the Rector. Nominal fees may be charged for these to cover costs.
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