Frequently asked questions
Can
I choose what kind of service I want?
Can
the church help me with my wedding preparations?
How do I contact the parish priest?
Should we
have one or two rings?
What are the legal requirements?
What if one or both of us are divorced?
Which hymns and songs can I have?
Can I get married in the churches of the Team Parish of
Oldham?
At the moment, English Law
says that just about anyone is entitled to be married in a
Church of England church wherever you live. But there are very strict rules
concerning which church.
For a guide to whether you are eligible, click here.
If it is not possible for your proposed marriage to take place in
one of the churches in our Team, we are happy to discuss other alternatives
with you, such as a Service of Prayer and Dedication after a civil ceremony
that has taken place in, for example, a local Hotel.
As soon as you have decided that you would like to get married in
one of our churches, get in touch with us to see if we are the available on
your preferred date. Click here for our contact details. Usually, one of our priests will
wish to meet with you in person to discuss your plans.
How do I arrange a marriage service in the
Parish of Oldham?
Phone us or write to us. To obtain our contact details,
click here.
Can the church help me with my wedding
preparations?
Yes! If you need advice or help, please contact click here.
Alternatively, the Church of England hosts a website
to help you plan the church wedding of their dreams. The new website contains useful case studies of real weddings,
information about the ceremony and marriage, a wedding planner, tips for
choosing church music, and a church finder.
What are the legal requirements?
It is easiest to get married after your banns have been read out in
our church on three consecutive Sundays. These Sundays must occur during the
three months before your wedding day. (Banns are a public announcement of your
intention to marry and a chance for anyone to put forward a reason why the
marriage may not lawfully take place.)
Please note that banns need to be read in the parish where each of
you lives as well as at the church in which you are to be married if that is
another parish. In some cases, there may be an alternative to banns – see the Church
of England website or our own summary
of the eligibility rules.
If you are under the age of eighteen, you will need your parents’
consent to marry.
There are special guidelines on church marriage if you have been
divorced, as
below.
The fees for a marriage cover the publication of the banns, certificate
of banns (if necessary), the marriage service itself (including heating and
lighting, the priest and verger’s time), and the certificate of marriage. These
fees are fixed centrally by the Church of England. Please click here for details.
Can I choose what kind of service I
want?
You can choose to have a modern-language service or one
expressed in more traditional language. Talk over the options with us. There
are usually one or more readings from the Bible included in the service –
Click here for a selection of appropriate Bible passages.
The minister will probably give a brief talk or sermon during the
service.
If you have friends or family members you would like to involve in
the service, for example by reading or playing a musical instrument, please
discuss this with
Which hymns and songs can I have?
We can advise on suitable hymns and songs, as well as music for
coming in, going out and during the signing of the register. If you want to set
out the words and/or music on a printed service sheet, you will need to comply
with the copyright laws – consult
Click here for a selection of popular hymns for a church wedding. Do not worry
if the list does not include your personal favourites: it is merely
intended to illustrate the breadth of choice available.
Should we have one or two rings?
A wedding ring is a symbol of unending love and faithfulness, and
of the commitment you are making to each other.
It is entirely your choice whether you have one ring or two.
The churches in the Parish of Oldham do permit marriage services to be recorded on video. We usually
charge a small fee to cover copyright issues. Please discuss your requirements
with us.
What if one or both of us are divorced?
The Church of England teaches that marriage is for life. It
also recognises that, sadly, some marriages do fail
and, if this should happen, it seeks to be available lf or all involved. The
Church accepts that, in exceptional circumstances, a divorced person may marry
again in a church during the lifetime of a former spouse.
We are usually willing to conduct such a marriage in our churches.
It is always wise to make an appointment to speak to us before setting a
date.
If for any reason it is not possible for your proposed marriage to
take place in the Team Parish of Oldham, we are happy to discuss other
alternatives with you, such as a Service of Prayer and Dedication after a civil
ceremony that has taken place in, for example, a local Hotel.