If you are asking about .......
A SERVICE OF PRAYER AND DEDICATION
AFTER CIVIL MARRIAGE
(sometimes called ‘A Blessing’)
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If you are asking about ....... A SERVICE OF PRAYER AND DEDICATION AFTER CIVIL MARRIAGE (sometimes called ‘A Blessing’) |
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Thank you for asking about this service – an official service of the Church of England – in which a couple, already married, dedicate to God their life together. It is intended for use by Christians ("followers of Christ" is the phrase used in the service), so we assume that couples asking for the service already worship with us – or are beginning to do so. The service is focused around a public dedication of your life to God and prayers for your future together. It is different from a Wedding Service (mainly because you arrive as husband and wife) and although it includes prayer for God’s blessing, it is not a ‘Blessing Service’. |
| Please see the notes below about our use of this service |
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As the service is one in which you are asking for the prayers of the church (not just the Vicar!) some couples choose to use it as part of our normal Sunday Worship – coming on a convenient Sunday after their Civil Ceremony.
If they wish, the couple can invite family and friends to the service, can choose some of the hymns to be sung and, where available, church bells can be rung after the service (for which a fee may be payable). |
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Other couples choose to hold a separate service – which we are happy to arrange. Under national guidelines there is a set fee for either service. For a separate service there will also be a Verger’s Fee and, possibly, fees for bellringers, an organist etc. An itemised statement of fees is available. In our parish we offer this service whenever one or both of those applying have been legally married before and where a previous husband or wife is still alive. The service is planned personally for you and can involve children entering the new relationship.
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NOTES:
We regret that in our parishes this service is not available … Rector on 01760 - 722021.
if either of the applicants has been married and divorced more than once
if the relationship between the applicants was a direct cause of the breakdown of either's former marriage
… and is not normally arranged until at least twelve months has elapsed since the legal ending (the Decree Absolute) of any previous marriage.
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