Marriage at St Barnabas: All you need to know
   

 
                                                                 Here comes the bride at St Barnabas

For general information, see Church of England web site   

Why Choose St Barnabas, Penny Lane for your marriage ?

Well we have a beautiful church which we'd love to share with you on your special day. Many who've chosen to marry here in the past  have lived in the St Barnabas  Penny Lane Parish  and have had associations with the Church.  Since 2008, the criteria for marrying in a Church of England Parish church have been extended so that a wider range of people may marry in church who do not now live in the St Barnabas Parish. Please contact our Church Administrator using the Contact tab above to check whether these apply to you.

In recent times couples have chosen to marry at St Barnabas as alone amongst the Mossley Hill Team Ministry Churches, we have a peal of 8 bells. The ringing of these bells complements the wedding day and makes the occasion much more memorable.

Hear the St Barnabas Bells being rung





What is a wedding?

A wedding is the solemnization (official recognition) of a marriage - a loving relationship between a man and a woman who commit themselves to one another for life.  When a wedding takes place in church, it is more specifically a sign that this relationship is blessed by God.

What happens at a wedding?

The details of any service will differ from church to church — and even between services in the same church — but the couple will always declare that they are eligible to marry each other, and will promise to love and stay faithful to each other for the rest of their lives. They are blessed by the priest and the marriage is formally completed with the words “Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder”.

Practical details of arranging the service are noted below.

Why bother with marriage?

The Church teaches that marriage is the right environment for a loving relationship, and the upbringing of children. It allows the couple to make a public statement of their commitment to each other, and is a potent symbol of their bodily union

Whom do we contact to arrange the wedding?

Contact ( 9.30 am to 11.30 am. M, T, Th, F) in the first instance the Mossley Hill Group of Churches Team Administrator; click on Contact tab above for more details .  Alone amongst the three churches in the Mossley Hill Team Ministry, St Barnabas Parish Church has a ring of 8 bells which can be rung at the wedding service.

Who can be married at St Barnabas?
We understand that there are many couples who would like to marry in a church that has special significance for them, through family or other close connections. So from the 1st October 2008, the Church of England has made it easier for couples to do just that. Our Team Administrator can advise you on this matter. If you are related to one another, please ask for advice.


 

 

 

  
     
                                            Marriages at St Barnabas Penny Lane    
   



 
What next?

You will have an initial meeting with Team Rector Rev. Butland or  Team Vicar Rev. Kennedy to discuss the date and time of the marriage, and a further meeting will be arranged to talk about marriage and all that it entails. 


The service itself:

You will have an initial meeting with a couple from one of our churches to discuss the date and time of the marriage, and a further meeting will be arranged with the minister taking the service to talk about marriage and all that it entails
You will normally need to choose two or three hymns and/or songs.

The service will normally last about 45 minutes. It is politely asked that the bride be no more than 5 minutes late to the church.

Photography is not allowed during the ceremony itself, although there is an opportunity at the signing of the registers;  video recordings are allowed on the understanding that during the marriage service it is to be unobtrusive. The photographer and the person taking the video will need to speak to the minister  before the service begins to discuss what is possible. A licence fee is payable.
 
After the service:
 
The church will be open after the service if you would like to take any photographs in the church itself. Please do not use confetti inside the church grounds unless it is biodegradable. 


     
   Post Wedding photos in St Barnabas grounds  
     

What about the rehearsal?

This should be arranged with the minister, and will normally be during the week before the marriage. Please bring your best man and other principal guests, so you can all familiarise yourselves with the service. 

What if a partner has been married before?

The Church of England teaches that marriage is for life.  It also recognizes that, sadly, some marriages do fail and, if this should happen, it seeks to be available for all involved. The Church accepts that in exceptional circumstances, a divorced person may marry again in church during the lifetime of a former spouse however you must discuss this with one of our clergy  before other arrangements can be made. 

What do we do if we have to cancel the wedding?

Please inform our office as soon as possible. We can’t accept notification from anyone but one of the partners. You will not be liable for any fees unless the Banns have already been published (in which case the statutory fees for the Banns and their certificate must be paid). 

If you have any query that is not covered here, or you would like clarification of anything, then please contact our office  or one of the clergy (Click on Contact tab above for more details ) 






 
 
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