Stone church - Weddings at St Mary's

Marriage 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
c)      or the couple have obtained a special licence, dispensing with the need for banns

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.