If you are here, then congratulations!
If you're thinking of popping the question and doing some background research; then good luck!
Marrying in church is personal, meaningful, spiritual and beautiful, just as you want it to be.
St Giles is the parish church for Aintree, which means that anyone who lives in Aintree can get married in this church.
St Giles is a lovely building; with a really special atmosphere.
The congregation are friendly and the clergy are always there to guide you through the process, and ups and downs of marriage, after your big day!
In the first instance, once your other half has said "yes" and you've told everyone you want to tell -
then get in touch with the Vicar.
Rev Nathan will meet you and get a date booked in and discuss some preliminaries with you.
You'll be sent one of our wedding guides; and also advised to look through the following websites to help you make your plans.
Church of England Marriage & Services
Weddings do have fees, but the parish clergy there throughout the process at any time to answer questions, give advice or reassurance, and pastoral care too.
Legally, they also solemnize the marriage; check and sign the legal paperwork for your marriage too.
The fees go towards the upkeep and maintenance of the church building; and pay the organist & bell-ringer, so other folk can have happy days like yours!
You can marry in a Church of England church if you can show that one of you:
- has at any time lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months, or
was baptised (christened) in the parish concerned, or
- is confirmed and your confirmation was entered in the register of confirmations for a church or chapel in the parish (this will usually be the case if you were 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 cannot show any of the above, you could create one, simply by attending a service at St Giles at least once a month for six consecutive months.
FAQ's
One or both of us is divorced. Can we still get married in church?
Yes, of course. We believe in a God of second chances; and it's great you have found someone to make a life-long commitment with again.
We will need to see your Decree Absolute; and talk about how you are going to avoid any of the issues that led to the breakdown of your previous marriage. This is part of our belief about what marriage is; and also pat of our pastoral care for you as a couple.
We are a same-sex couple. Can we get married in church?
The Church of England does not currently permit it's clergy to solemnize same-sex marriages.
You may find the following links helpful:
Equal: Campaign for Equal Marriage in the Church of England:
Open Table Network: Our nearest Open Table congregation is All Saints with St Frideswyde's, Thornton & Crosby (where Rev Nathan's wife is the Vicar!)
The Vicar proposed and PCC unanimously approved the use of the "Prayers of Love & Faith" that can be used to dedicate, celebrate and ask for God's blessing on a couple.
Please ask the Vicar about these prayers; and how you can include them in your celebrations.
One of us is from a country outside the European Economic Area. Is this an issue?
No, but please let the Vicar know. There are certain checks that we will need to be carried out to ensure marriages are genuine and protected; and prevent those that are not.
One of us is from a different faith. Can we still get married?
Yes, generally.
When you get married in church, vows are exchanged in the presence of God and witnesses.
The Church of England ceremony will be a Christian one – the vows and the Christian nature of the ceremony cannot be changed.
However, if you have met the basic legal requirements, couples from different faith backgrounds can be married in church.
With the advice of the vicar, there may be places where you can bring an element of other traditions, cultures and even different languages into your service, perhaps through readings and music.
If you have fundamentally different spiritual beliefs, this may present an additional challenge in your relationship and the vicar may want to include that as part of preparing you for the vows you will make on your wedding day.
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