Weddings at
Great Budworth and Arley Chapel, 2010.
Congratulations in advance on your forthcoming
wedding.
Please read these notes carefully - they are here to help you.
I am generally available to see couples after the main Sunday morning Service,
which
usually finishes at 11.30am. Alternatively please contact me by telephone or
e-mail .
(01606 891324,
alec-brown@tiscali.co.uk).
1. Marriage in the Church of England.
The official teaching of the Church of England holds that marriage is a lifelong
commitment between a man and a woman, and although clergy now have some
discretion as to the remarriage of divorced persons in church during the
lifetime of a former spouse, the policy followed within the Parish of Great
Budworth is not to conduct such weddings but to offer a Service of Prayer and
Dedication following a Civil Marriage instead.
2. Preliminaries to marriage in the Church of England.
Although there are a
number of legal preliminaries to marriage within the Church of England, the
three most commonly encountered are as follows:
a) marriage by banns, one or both of the parties being resident in the Parish in
question;
b) marriage by banns, neither of the parties being resident in the Parish in
question but one or both of the parties being a regular worshipper at the Parish
church in question;
c) marriage by banns, neither of the parties being resident in the Parish but
where
one or both having a "qualifying connection" with the Parish.
d) marriage by special licence, at the discretion of the Registrar of the
Archbishop of Canterbury, both parties being non-residents of the Parish in
question but with one or both parties having a real connection with the Parish
or church in question.
3. Orders of Service.
Draft Orders of
Service are available from the Vicar, with whom consultation is advised before
any decisions are made with regard to printing. A decision about the rite to be
used for the wedding, traditional Book of Common Prayer or modern Common
Worship, also needs to be made.
4. Music.
Please see separate
sheet from the Organist, with suggestions for music and hymns. It is very
important that you make contact with the Organist as early as possible in your
planning, either by telephone (01606 891349) or by appointment with him after
the main Sunday morning service. Please note that the use of pre recorded music
is not recommended. Any requests for the use of such music will need the
agreement of both the Vicar and the Organist, who will ultimately be responsible
for judgments as to the suitability of such music within the church. In the same
way requests for external Choirs, music groups, and so on will need the
agreement of both the Organist and the Vicar.
5. Flowers.
A leaflet describing general guidelines with regard to flowers is available from
the Vicar. If there are two or more weddings on the same day, parties are
advised to liaise with each other with regard to floral arrangements.
6. Parking.
Parking is often
difficult in Great Budworth but some space is available at the Village School,
outside of weekdays in term time of course. A donation of £20 or thereabouts is
recommended and should be paid to the Vicar along with the fees, at the
rehearsal. The church makes an annual grant to the school for use of the
school's parking facilities.
7. Rehearsals.
These are usually held
the day before the wedding but can be arranged at any convenient time to suit
all parties.
8. Photography.
Professional video
recording of the wedding is subject to copyright, and couples intending to
record their wedding in this way must consult with the Vicar at an early stage
in the proceedings. An additional fee is payable to the Organist if the service
is recorded professionally. Official, and unofficial, photography must be
discrete and unobtrusive - photographers must consult with the Vicar as to what
is, and what is not, permitted.
9. Fees.
Church fees must be
paid at least two weeks in advance of the wedding, by cheque (payable to Great
Budworth PCC) while fees for Organist, Bells, Choir, and Verger must be brought
in cash (in tens and fives please) to the rehearsal. Information about fees is
available in church or from the Vicar. For 2010 the Church fee is £285.50
(slightly less if no banns are called i.e. marriage by special license). The
church fee is made up of an amount payable towards the Incumbent's stipend
(which goes to the Diocese of Chester) and an amount payable to the Parochial
Church Council. These are the statutory fees payable. Fees for Organist, Verger,
Choir and Bells (if required) and parking are in addition to this and for 2010
amount to £285.00.
10. Punctuality
It is not the bride's
prerogative to be late! Genuine reasons for the bride's delayed arrival (an
accident, breakdown etc.) are of course accepted (and must be communicated to
the Vicar as soon as possible) but delays of any other reason (dress won't fit
etc) may lead to the service being shortened, especially as those involved with
the wedding often have other engagements.
11. Marriage at Arley
Chapel.
This is by permission
of Viscount Ashbrook and always requires a Special Marriage License. Please
speak to the Vicar for further details.
The Revd Alec Brown.
Vicar of Great
Budworth.
January, 2010.
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