Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals
Part of what makes a church community so special is the way in which we can be there for our community at the different stages of life. Having a baby. Planning a wedding. Losing a loved one. In joy and grief alike, church is a place where, in faith, we share the highs and lows of these significant life events together.
Baptisms
We encourage everyone who wants to arrange a baptism to worship with us; before the baptism, we want to get to know you at St John’s; and afterwards, we want to help you fulfil the promises you will make as part of the baptism service and develop an active faith as part of our community.
Please come and join us on a Sunday and contact Rev’d Alex Mills about preparing for baptism.
Weddings
BANNS OF MARRIAGE
If you live in the parish of St John’s, and are getting married elsewhere you may need us to call your banns. Please email Christopher Jolly to arrange for your banns to be read.
To check which parish you live in, click here and enter your postcode in the box titled Find Your Local Church and make contact with the church office or vicar there.
Weddings at St John’s
Marrying in church is as personal, meaningful and spiritual as you want it to be. Churches are special and unique places to get married in – the prayers, promises and the whole service of celebration become part of your marriage, on the day itself and beyond. Getting married is probably the biggest commitment people ever make in their lives and it is wonderful to seek God’s blessing as you start a new phase in your relationship, dedicating yourself to one another in the presence of your friends and family.
St John’s helps couples prepare for marriage by offering a course to give space and supported reflecting on how your relationship is evolving, what our understandings of marriage are and looking at what is in the church marriage service.
You can marry at St John’s if one of you:
has at any time lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months, or
was baptised (christened) at St John’s, or
is confirmed and your confirmation was prepared for at St John’s, or
has at any time regularly gone to normal church services at St John’s 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 of St John’s for a period of at least 6 months, or
has regularly gone to normal church services at St John’s for a period of at least 6 months
or
That one of your parents or grandparents:
was married at St John’s
If you don’t have any of the above connections, you could create one, simply by attending St John’s services at least once a month for six consecutive months at least eight months before the date of your marriage.
If you are interested in booking a wedding, please contact Rev’d Alex Mills.
You can find more information about weddings in the Church of England at www.yourchurchwedding.org
Funerals
The Church of England funeral is available to everyone and St John’s. Services can be held throughout the week and the Funeral Director will liaise with the church in order to find the best time for the family.
In order to prepare for a funeral, the vicar will be in touch to arrange a chance to talk about the service so that it can be an occasion to honour the life of the deceased in a personal, fitting and hopeful way. Discussions about choices of hymns, readings, poems, tributes, music and orders of service will take place at this point.
For more information about a Church of England funeral service, please visit the website, Church of England funerals.
