Anyone who resides in the parish of Thorley, or whose name is on the Church electoral roll, is entitled to marry in St James The Great, provided that certain legal requirements are met, including a minimum age of 18 (or 16 with parental consent). Also, the Church of England currently does not allow a divorcee to marry in church if a previous partner is still alive.
We hold a meeting every Monday evening except Bank Holidays, from 7.00 to 8.00pm in the St Barnabas Centre, to explain the legal requirements and necessary preparations for weddings in St James'. The Church also offers some counselling and runs a short and informal preparatory course for couples getting married.
Prospective couples should give the Church plenty of notice of their wedding plans. Six to eight weeks should normally be enough but in summer, more time may be needed. The banns of marriage are published on three, usually consecutive, Sundays prior to the wedding. The time of the wedding, the order of service, hymns, floral arrangement all have to be agreed with the clergy.
Please call the Church Office if you are contemplating a wedding in St James'.
