Marriage

frequently asked questions

St George Stalybridge

Q. Can I get married at St George's?
A. You can be married at St George's if one or both of you live in the parish. For a list of streets in St George's parish click here If one of you lives in a different parish you will have to have banns called there.

If neither of you lives in the parish you can be married at St George's only if you and/or your partner is a regular worshipper and on our electoral roll. To qualify for the electoral roll you will be expected to regularly attend the church services for at least six months.

If neither of you is a regular worshipper and you do not live in the parish it is possible to get married in a Registry Office then come on to St George's for a service of blessing. This will be like the marriage service without the registration and you may still make vows before God.

Q. How do I book the church?
A. As soon as you have decided you would like to get married St George's or have a service of blessing after your civil marriage, get in touch with the Vicar (0161 338 2368) to see whether the church is free on your preferred date. The Vicar will arrange to meet with you in person to discuss your plans.

Q. What are the legal requirements?
A. Marriage in a parish church is by banns (from an old word meaning 'to announce' - similar to banner). Banns are an announcement of your intention to marry and a chance for anyone to put forward a reason why your marriage may not lawfully take place. You must have your banns read out in church for three Sundays during the three months before the wedding. They need to be read in St George's and, if your partner lives in another parish, also in that parish church.

If you are under the age of eighteen, you must have your parents' consent to marry.

Q. What if one or both of us is divorced?
A. At St George's we affirm that marriage is for life. We also recognize that some marriages fail and accept, therefore, that divorced persons may marry again.

As part of your preparation for your new marriage and what it means to you, you will want to consider:
* What have you learned from your previous marriage?
* Has there been healing of past hurts?
* If you have children, how are they being looked after?
* What do others think of your marriage plans?

Q. How much will it cost?
A. The legal fees for a marriage cover the publication of the banns, certificate of banns (if necessary), the marriage service and a certificate of marriage. These fees are fixed nationally. St George's also charges some local fees, for the organist, verger, heating, video recording etc. The full fees for the current year are available here.

Q. Can I choose what kind of service I want?
A. The services is outlined here or in a simple leaflet. You can choose to have a modern language service or one in more traditional language . Talk over the options with the officiating minister. There are usually one or more readings from the Bible or other readings or poetry - we can help you select the most appropriate. There will also be some prayers, which you may help to choose, or you may write your own. You may also decide to have someone other than the minister leading the readings and prayers. You may have friends or family members you would like to involve in the service, for example by doing a reading or playing a musical instrument.

The minister will probably give a brief talk.

Q. Which hymns and songs can I have?
A. The officiating minister and the Director of Music 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 - you should consult the officiating minister about this. For some popular choices click here

Q. Should we have one or two rings?
A. A wedding ring is a symbol of unending love and faithfulness, and of the commitment you are making to each other. It is entirely up to you whether you have one ring or two.

Q. Can we have a video recording of the service?
A. Yes, this is possible but there is a fee to pay to cover copyright costs..