The church is open on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. for wedding and christening enquiries.

British citizens resident in England have the right to (1) be  christened, (2) get married (subject to certain legal restrictions), and (3) have a funeral service in their local parish church.

Baptism

Baptism (or christening) is the reception of a person into the Church of God. A person may be baptised at any stage of his or her life. The Church of England allows for the baptism of infants. A person however can only be baptised once.

To be baptised, the person or (if a child) the parents should normally live within the parish or be enrolled on the Church Electoral Roll. In the case of a child, both parents should consent to the baptism.

A Service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child is available to parents who wish to give thanks but who do not wish their child to be baptised.

Marriage

Couples can get married at St Edmund's if either of you live within the parish. (See page on this site listing the roads in the parish.) We will need evidence of your address, in the form of a utility bill addressed in your name.

If you do not live in the parish, you can get married at St Edmund's by enrolling on the Church Electoral Roll. Before enrolment, you will need to have attended Sunday services on a regular basis for at least six months.

Alternatively, you may marry at St Edmund's if one or other of you (1) was baptised here, (2) was confirmed here, (3) had at any time your place of residence in the parish for at least six months, (4) had at any time habitually attended public worship here for at least six months; or if (5) a parent of that person has at any time during that person’s life had their usual place of residence in the parish for at least six months, or habitually attended public worship here for at least six months, or (6) a parent or grandparent was married here.

If you have been previously married, you will need to present your decree absolute.

If one or other of you are not a British or EU citizen, you will need to obtain a Common Licence or a Superintendent Registrar's Certificate to marry.

Under UK law, a couple may marry if both are 16 years or older and free to marry (that is they are single, widowed or divorced, or were in a civil partnership which has been dissolved). Those aged 16 or 17 need to have parental consent. People of the same sex (as given on their current birth certificate) cannot presently be married under the law. Those who are related to each other as parent and child, uncle/aunt and nephew/niece, brother and sister, or grandparent and grandchild may not marry each other. (These restrictions include adoptive parents/children, half-siblings and the children of half-siblings.)

A Service of Prayer and Dedication is available to couples after a civil marriage ceremony.

Currently, Church of England churches are not licensed as approved premises for the registration of civil partnerships.

Wedding Fees (with effect from 1 January 2011)

£22 - Publication of Banns

£12 - Certificate of Banns (if required)

£262 - Marriage Service

£3.50 - Marriage certificate (at registration, if required)

In addition to the legal fees, £50 is charged as a contribution to the continuing presence of the church.

These figures do not include any charges for extras such as music (e.g. organist, choir), bells, and flowers.