Weddings, Christenings and other Life Events

Every home in England is in a Church of England parish with its own Parish Church - some ancient, some less so, some vast, some small, some chocolate-box picture-perfect (and some which aren't!). In fact, wherever in England you live, you have legal rights in your Parish Church - like the right to get married there, or to be buried in the Churchyard.

For centuries, every step of human life has been marked within the Church's walls, accompanying people regardless of how 'Religious' they may be. Everything from the beginning of life through to its end (and after) - the Church offers services to mark occasions of both joy and of sorrow for anyone who wishes to make use of them.

Over the years, there aren't many areas of life which we've not found a way of marking with a suitable ceremony, from the simple to the complicated, from the small to the vast,  from the private to the very, very public. For example:

• Christenings and Naming services, and thanksgivings for adoptions;
• Weddings, and renewals of wedding vows, and blessings of new wedding rings;
• Blessings of civil partnerships and weddings, or after a wedding abroad;
• Betrothal (=engagement) services;
• Funerals and memorial services

And a few others which might well surprise you!