Getting married at Christ Church

Christ Church holds to the traditional teaching of the Church with regard to marriage, that it is for life and between a man and a woman. 

If either prospective bride or groom has been married before and has a spouse living it is not possible to be married at Christ Church. ​

Many couples marry in their own local church, but in 2008 the Church of England changed its law so that a couple can marry in a church away from where they live because it has special significance for them through family or other connections.

An engaged couple can now do that if either of them can show one of the seven connections with the parish listed below (what is called a qualifying connection).

You are entitled to be married at Christ Church if at least one of you:

has at any time lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months or

was baptised in the parish or

was prepared for confirmation in the parish or

has at any time regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months.

Or that one of your parents, at any time after you were born:

has lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months or

has regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months.

Or that one of your parents or grandparents was married in the parish.

If you meet the above criteria then please come along to the Sunday 10am Mass to have a look at the church, to talk to Fr John and to discuss possible dates etc.

The Reading of Banns

If you are getting married at another church and need your banns of marriage reading then please come to the Sunday 10am Mass and the necessary paperwork can be filled in afterwards.

For more information please visit the parish website