Baptisms & Weddings - Just Ask

Just Ask:

For those interested in being married, baptised or confirmed, or if you have a question you would like answered by one of the clergy, St Mary's Church runs Just Ask sessions from 10am-11am every Saturday where one of our team will be happy to provide you with more information and guidance.

Baptisms:

A baptism marks the beginning of a journey of faith. In baptism parents and godparents are able to thank God for the gift of their child and to ask the church for support in nurturing them on their journey of faith.

Christenings at St. Mary’s generally take place on the 4th Sunday of the month at 4:00pm. The service lasts about 40 minutes and it is likely that other families will also be having their children christened at the same time. Christenings at St Faith's are generally at 11:30am on a Sunday to suit families' preferences. To find out more about our Christening services, please attend one of our Just Ask sessions or contact the church office at [email protected] or 02392 814 444.

To make an enquiry about specific dates and the church's availability for a child's baptism, then please complete our Child Baptism Enquiry Form and someone will get back to you. If you are interested in an adult baptism, please attend one of our Just Ask sessions where we can give you further information.

Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child

An alternative to having your baby christened is to have a service of “Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child”. In this service, you thank God for the gift of your child and your child is blessed by the priest. You and your child’s sponsors do not make the same promises as in the Christening service and it is possible for your child to be christened at a later date. Again, to find out more please attend one of our Just Ask sessions or contact the church office.

'For we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.' – 1 Corinthians 12:13

Weddings:

In marriage couples ask God to bless their union and for help in their new life together. Within the wider community of family and friends they make promises to each other and a ring or rings are given and received. Marriage preparation classes are held twice a year and couples are invited to attend these sessions before their marriage date.

To find out more about weddings at St. Mary’s or St. Faith's please call into one of our Just Ask sessions or contact the church office at [email protected] or 02392 814 444. To make an enquiry about specific dates and the church's availability please complete the Wedding Enquiry Form and someone will get back to you.

More information about getting married in a Church of England church, including options for prayers, music and readings as well as advice for planning your wedding are available on the Church of England’s national wedding site.

'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.' – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7