Getting Married at Holy Trinity, Hoghton

If you are thinking of getting married - congratulations!

This web page is here to give you some information to think through about your plans. If you do get married at Holy Trinity, Hoghton the vicar is responsible to ensure that you are both prepared for marriage.

Part of the preparation will involve carefully going through the service with the Vicar. The aim is not only to give you an idea of the practical things you will be required to do in the ceremony itself, but also to see what is involved in Christian marriage.

At the heart of Christian marriage is the belief that your love for one another is a gift from God himself and in the service there is the declaration “Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder”. It is essential that the step of Christian marriage should not be lightly undertaken.

We will be happy, if you so wish, to also arrange a short rehearsal in Church a day or two before your wedding.

In the light of recent changes in the Church of England allowing individual Anglican ministers to re-marry divorcees if their conscience permits, some people may be wondering if Holy Trinity, Hoghton will now marry people who are divorced. You may be disappointed to learn that we are maintaining our usual policy of not marrying divorcees - not because we believe re-marriage is never appropriate, but because we feel it is impossible for the vicar to act as judge and jury for each case with which he is presented. However, if a couple have re-married after the divorce of at least one of them, we will be happy to arrange a 'Service of Blessing after a Civil Marriage'. Please contact the Vicar.

Banns

Please remember to make arrangements to have the banns called in the parish Church of the non- Hoghton partner. Please also ensure that you collect the certificate after the banns have been called in the other parish and let us have it BEFORE your wedding - we cannot marry you without it! The current cost (March 2003) of calling of banns and the issuing of a banns certificate is £27 but this goes up a little every year.

It is important to be present to hear the banns read at the church where you are to be married. The Vicar or other minister will arrange with you the three successive Sundays on which your banns will be read at Holy Trinity, Hoghton - this will be during the three months before the wedding. Banns are read at the 10.30 am service. If you are not living in the Parish of Holy Trinity, Hoghton but your name is on the church electoral roll of this parish, the banns must nevertheless be called in this parish as well as the parish in which you are resident.

The Wedding Service

Hymns which are popular at weddings are:-

Praise my soul the King of heaven

The Lord’s My Shepherd (Tune -Crimond)

Lead us heavenly Father lead us

Love Divine, all loves excelling

The King of Love my Shepherd is

Now thank we all our God.

Come down, O Love divine

Immortal, Invisible, God only wise

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart

Through all the changing scenes of life

You are welcome to choose other hymns providing they are in the church hymn books or if you intend to have an order of service printedIf you are intending to have a service sheet, please could you inform us of the hymns chosen BEFORE you go to print so that we can confirm the suitability of the hymns for the occasion.

Music

If you have any special requests for music you wish to be played at your wedding to come in or to go out to, or which you would like played while the registers are being signed, please inform the minister taking the service in good time. If no particular requests are made, the traditional pieces will be played.If you wish to have the Church Choir sing at your wedding please let us know as soon as possible.

Fees 

The fees for the Marriage Service are fixed annually by Parliament by the Parochial Fees Order and they cover the cost of the Marriage Service, the banns, use of the organ, use of the building, the Clerk and the issue of a marriage certificate.

At the present time these amount to £180.00

Plus:-

Organist’s Fee £35.00

Choir Fee

Verger’s Fee £35.00

Total £250.00

Car Parking

Guests are permitted to use the church car park on the day of the wedding, though space is limited.

Video

If you wish to have a video of the church service it is ESSENTIAL that you inform the Vicar who will want to meet with the video operator before permission will be given.

Enquiries

If there are matters regarding your wedding about which you would like advice please contact the Vicar.