The Parish Office, Church Lane, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 8DN   |   01932 856399

Marriage

St James’ Church Weybridge is a prayerful and beautiful place to be married, with a long history and dedicated team to help make your day extra special. Countless couples have knelt before the Altar at St James for prayers on their wedding day and we know that you will have a wonderful family occasion if you are married with us. Our team are ready to help make your day the most wonderful occasion and we look forward to hearing from you soon. Arrangements for Weddings should be made via the Parish Office; for further details and an application form; 01932 856399 or stjamesweybridge@btinternet.com

Welcome to St James!

A wedding is one of life’s great moments, a time of solemn commitment as well as good wishes, feasting and joy. St John tells us how Jesus shared in such an occasion at Cana, and gave there a sign of new beginnings as he turned water into wine. (In the Bible, see John Chapter 2)

Christians believe that marriage is intended by God to be a creative relationship; God’s blessing enables husband and wife to love and support each other in good times and in bad and to share in the care and upbringing of children. Marriage is also an invitation to share life together in the spirit of Jesus Christ and the community of the Church. It is based upon a solemn, public and life-long covenant between a man and a woman, declared and celebrated in the presence of God and before witnesses.

“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”   1 Corinthians 13.4-7

Holding your Wedding at St James’ Church

If you regularly attend St James for worship and / or are a member of St James’ Church Electoral Roll, then you can automatically be married in St James’ Church. In addition, if you are not a regular church goer but live within the Parish of Weybridge then you are legally entitled to be married at St James’. Our Ministry Team will be able to explain to you the legal preliminaries, including the calling of banns and obtaining licences when required. To confirm that you live within the Parish of Weybridge simply follow this link to achurchnearyou.com and enter your postcode.

Qualifying Connection to be married at St James’ Church

For those who don’t qualify as above, a couple can be married in a Church of England church if they can prove what is known as a qualifying connection. This could be that you and your family attended St James’ Church when you were a child / growing up, or perhaps your parents still live in the Parish of Weybridge. It could be that you were baptised or confirmed at St James’ or that one of your parents or grandparents got married in the church. In order to qualify, you may also attend regular worship, at least monthly for six months (you need to sign-in on each visit to qualify). If you wish to get married at St James’, and you think that you can prove one or other of these connections then you need to make contact with us. A member of St James’ Ministry Team will want to meet with you in order to be able to clarify whether or not there is a qualifying connection and you may be asked to provide appropriate evidence to support this. A wedding ceremony at St St James’ Church, Weybridge cannot be ‘booked’ and the deposit of £200 paid, until the qualifying connection has been met.

On meeting the rules of qualification you will be asked to pay the deposit to secure your chosen date and time. At this stage you will be asked to complete a Banns of Marriage Application Form (this is in addition to the Qualifying Connections Form).

For Weddings at St James’ Church, Weybridge, complete a Banns of Marriage Application Form: Marriage Document Application Form Weybridge 2023

Qualifying Connection Form for weddings at St James’ Church, Weybridge: Qualifying Connection Form Weybridge 2023

Date, time of ceremony and deposit to secure your booking

Ceremonies at St James’ Church Weybridge, can take place at set times: 10am, 12noon, 2pm or 4pm on a Monday – Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. On a Sunday and certain festival days including Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday/Easter Eve, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or St Stephen’s/Boxing Day Weddings we don’t hold weddings in Church. 

You will be asked to pay a £200 (non-refundable) deposit to secure the date and time of your ceremony and complete a Marriage Application form and provide documentation to prove your address and confirm your identity.

Marriage Preparation Evening  Monday 22nd January 2024 at 7:30pm. 

The Church of England takes very seriously the important commitment that husband and wife make to one another on their wedding day, which is why at St James’ Church we ask all wedding couples to take part in our Marriage Preparation Evening. On this occasion we will introduce the team and provide you with resources which aim to help you to think about married life and all it will mean for you. In preparation you may like to carefully read our useful pack entitled ‘Your Wedding Ceremony Explained’ to help you make plans for your ceremony. Download your copy now!

Your Wedding Ceremony Explained 2023

Banns Only

If your ceremony is to be held in another Church of England (Anglican) parish and you are resident in Thorpe you will need your Away Banns called at St James’. We always call banns in the 10am Sunday Sung Eucharist on the first three Sundays of the month preceding your ceremony, and you will need to attend at least one of these services. Once your away banns have been called, a certificate will be available for you to collect from the Parish Office. A set fee will be charged for the calling of Away Banns.

Away Banns application form – for couples who are getting married in a different parish but need their banns read at St James’ Church Weybridge: Away Banns Application Form 2023You will also need to provide proof of your identity and address.

Marriage after Divorce

It is possible to be married at St James’ Church when one or both of you has been divorced. A decision will be made on a case by case basis and the Bishop of Guildford will need to be consulted by the Rector before any ceremony can take place. Alternatively, in many circumstances it is appropriate to hold a service of Blessing in St James’ Church following on from a Civil Marriage (in a Registry Office or approved wedding venue) and our Ministry Team are always happy to discuss possibilities.

You can find out more information here: www.churchofengland.org/life-events/your-church-wedding/just-engaged/marriage-after-divorce

Same-Sex Marriage

By law, marriage in a Church of England Parish Church is only allowed between one man and one woman and we are not yet permitted to offer services of blessing to same-sex couples, and we recognise this will be a disappointment to many as it is to us. St James’ Church is a member of the national body, www.inclusive-church.org and we are committed to inclusivity and Father Damian our Rector is always happy to give pastoral support and offer prayer with same-sex couples. St James’ Church community is inclusive of all and you are welcome so please don’t hesitate to be in touch with us. St James’ is committed to support our local LGBTI community and see a more inclusive future for the Church of England and for all people regardless of gender or sexual orientation. You may like to know more about the ongoing debate within the Church of England around sexuality and identity, and have your say as part of the Living in Love and Faith project. 

The Church of England pages about weddings & Marriage

Do check out this link for much more information about your wedding in Church:  www.churchofengland.org/life-events/your-church-wedding

You can find out more about some of the legalities, such as the marriage of people from outside the UK at: guildforddiocesanregistry.co.uk/marriage

St James’ Church Weybridge is a prayerful and beautiful place to be married, with a long history and dedicated team to help make your day extra special. Countless couples have knelt before the Altar at St James for prayers on their wedding day and we know that you will have a wonderful family occasion if you are married with us. Our team are ready to help make your day the most wonderful occasion and we look forward to hearing from you soon. Arrangements for Weddings should be made via the Parish Office; for further details and an application form; 01932 856399 or stjamesweybridge@btinternet.com

Welcome to St James!

A wedding is one of life’s great moments, a time of solemn commitment as well as good wishes, feasting and joy. St John tells us how Jesus shared in such an occasion at Cana, and gave there a sign of new beginnings as he turned water into wine. (In the Bible, see John Chapter 2)

Christians believe that marriage is intended by God to be a creative relationship; God’s blessing enables husband and wife to love and support each other in good times and in bad and to share in the care and upbringing of children. Marriage is also an invitation to share life together in the spirit of Jesus Christ and the community of the Church. It is based upon a solemn, public and life-long covenant between a man and a woman, declared and celebrated in the presence of God and before witnesses.

“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”   1 Corinthians 13.4-7

Holding your Wedding at St James’ Church

If you regularly attend St James for worship and / or are a member of St James’ Church Electoral Roll, then you can automatically be married in St James’ Church. In addition, if you are not a regular church goer but live within the Parish of Weybridge then you are legally entitled to be married at St James’. Our Ministry Team will be able to explain to you the legal preliminaries, including the calling of banns and obtaining licences when required. To confirm that you live within the Parish of Weybridge simply follow this link to achurchnearyou.com and enter your postcode.

Qualifying Connection to be married at St James’ Church

For those who don’t qualify as above, a couple can be married in a Church of England church if they can prove what is known as a qualifying connection. This could be that you and your family attended St James’ Church when you were a child / growing up, or perhaps your parents still live in the Parish of Weybridge. It could be that you were baptised or confirmed at St James’ or that one of your parents or grandparents got married in the church. In order to qualify, you may also attend regular worship, at least monthly for six months (you need to sign-in on each visit to qualify). If you wish to get married at St James’, and you think that you can prove one or other of these connections then you need to make contact with us. A member of St James’ Ministry Team will want to meet with you in order to be able to clarify whether or not there is a qualifying connection and you may be asked to provide appropriate evidence to support this. A wedding ceremony at St St James’ Church, Weybridge cannot be ‘booked’ and the deposit of £200 paid, until the qualifying connection has been met.

On meeting the rules of qualification you will be asked to pay the deposit to secure your chosen date and time. At this stage you will be asked to complete a Banns of Marriage Application Form (this is in addition to the Qualifying Connections Form).

For Weddings at St James’ Church, Weybridge, complete a Banns of Marriage Application Form: Marriage Document Application Form Weybridge 2023

Qualifying Connection Form for weddings at St James’ Church, Weybridge: Qualifying Connection Form Weybridge 2023

Date, time of ceremony and deposit to secure your booking

Ceremonies at St James’ Church Weybridge, can take place at set times: 10am, 12noon, 2pm or 4pm on a Monday – Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. On a Sunday and certain festival days including Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday/Easter Eve, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or St Stephen’s/Boxing Day Weddings we don’t hold weddings in Church. 

You will be asked to pay a £200 (non-refundable) deposit to secure the date and time of your ceremony and complete a Marriage Application form and provide documentation to prove your address and confirm your identity.

Marriage Preparation Evening  Monday 22nd January 2024 at 7:30pm. 

The Church of England takes very seriously the important commitment that husband and wife make to one another on their wedding day, which is why at St James’ Church we ask all wedding couples to take part in our Marriage Preparation Evening. On this occasion we will introduce the team and provide you with resources which aim to help you to think about married life and all it will mean for you. In preparation you may like to carefully read our useful pack entitled ‘Your Wedding Ceremony Explained’ to help you make plans for your ceremony. Download your copy now!

Your Wedding Ceremony Explained 2023

Banns Only

If your ceremony is to be held in another Church of England (Anglican) parish and you are resident in Thorpe you will need your Away Banns called at St James’. We always call banns in the 10am Sunday Sung Eucharist on the first three Sundays of the month preceding your ceremony, and you will need to attend at least one of these services. Once your away banns have been called, a certificate will be available for you to collect from the Parish Office. A set fee will be charged for the calling of Away Banns.

Away Banns application form – for couples who are getting married in a different parish but need their banns read at St James’ Church Weybridge: Away Banns Application Form 2023. You will also need to provide proof of your identity and address.

Marriage after Divorce

It is possible to be married at St James’ Church when one or both of you has been divorced. A decision will be made on a case by case basis and the Bishop of Guildford will need to be consulted by the Rector before any ceremony can take place. Alternatively, in many circumstances it is appropriate to hold a service of Blessing in St James’ Church following on from a Civil Marriage (in a Registry Office or approved wedding venue) and our Ministry Team are always happy to discuss possibilities.

You can find out more information here: www.churchofengland.org/life-events/your-church-wedding/just-engaged/marriage-after-divorce

Same-Sex Marriage

By law, marriage in a Church of England Parish Church is only allowed between one man and one woman and we are not yet permitted to offer services of blessing to same-sex couples, and we recognise this will be a disappointment to many as it is to us. St James’ Church is a member of the national body, www.inclusive-church.org and we are committed to inclusivity and Father Damian our Rector is always happy to give pastoral support and offer prayer with same-sex couples. St James’ Church community is inclusive of all and you are welcome so please don’t hesitate to be in touch with us. St James’ is committed to support our local LGBTI community and see a more inclusive future for the Church of England and for all people regardless of gender or sexual orientation. You may like to know more about the ongoing debate within the Church of England around sexuality and identity, and have your say as part of the Living in Love and Faith project. 

The Church of England pages about weddings & Marriage

Do check out this link for much more information about your wedding in Church:  www.churchofengland.org/life-events/your-church-wedding

You can find out more about some of the legalities, such as the marriage of people from outside the UK at: guildforddiocesanregistry.co.uk/marriage