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News & Events: Weddings

 Weddings, Wedding Blessings, Renewal of Vows & Re-marriages

        St Giles the Abbot is a very attractive venue for weddings and Blessings. With the approach through the Lych Gate, along a winding path and into the delightful, heavy beamed church on the Hill overlooking the magnificent Kent Countryside. It also has many favourable areas for the photographs. For more details and information please contact the Parish Office (01689 853471, e-mail: liz@parishoffice.eclipse.co.uk) or the Rector (01689 856931, e-mail: jmath@btinternet.com).

Getting Married at St. Giles the Abbot, Farnborough

 A warm welcome to this part of our web site, and thank you for looking us up.  We would be delighted to explore with you the possibility of holding your wedding at St. Giles and we are very committed to helping you have a wonderful day, and also a happy and fulfilling married life together. 

If you live in our parish you have a right by law to get married in St. Giles, unless you have been previously married.  If you do not live in the parish, then you can qualify to get married by the following criteria: 

            Couples may marry in a parish church:

 If none of these criteria applies to you, then you can qualify to marry in St. Giles by making it your habitual place of worship.  In other words, you would be expected to attend church at least twice a month for a period of six months.  Following that you could apply to join the electoral roll, which would then make you eligible to marry at St. Giles, since it would now be considered your place of worship.  To become a member of the church you do have to be baptised.  If you are not baptised, we would be delighted to explore this with you.

Marriage Preparation Classes

 Not only are we committed to ensuring that you have a very special and memorable wedding day, we are also keen to help you prepare for married life. To this end we run an eight-week wedding preparation course dealing with the following:

Our Marriage Preparation Classes not only allow you time to think and reflect but enable you to meet with other couples and get to know some of the clergy and key people involved in your wedding day. The classes are held in the church which creates a lovely atmosphere too.

Wedding Blessings at St. Giles following a Civil Ceremony

In today’s world, many couples decide to get married in warm and exotic locations abroad.  These weddings can always be very memorable, exciting and different.  However, due to logistics, it is not always easy to include a wider circle of family and friends.  Over the years, we have catered for a number of couples who have “tied the knot” abroad, but have wanted a traditional church service which will allow them to invite a fuller guest list while at the same time gaining God’s blessing on the their relationship.  If you are getting married abroad, or at another location such as a country club, golf course or manor house, for example, then why not come to St. Giles to have your marriage blessed by God?  Wedding blessings do not require any residency qualifications.  In other words, technically, people living anywhere in the world could have their wedding blessed in our church with all the accompanying memories and beautiful photographs.

Renewal of Marriage Vows and Significant Anniversaries

 For many people, reaching a significant anniversary in the life of their marriage is a real achievement and warrants a special celebration. At St. Giles we are very committed to supporting and upholding the gift of married life.  If you are approaching a significant anniversary, or if your marriage has been through a rocky patch and you would like a fresh start, then a Renewal Service can be just the right thing.  In this case you would be invited to stand in front of the altar and repeat the promises that you once made.  Children and grandchildren can act as bridesmaids and pageboys; the same hymns can be sung and special music can be played either on the organ or CD player.  If this is followed by a family get-together the whole day can be a wonderful and memorable occasion which not only brings everybody together, but strengthens and renews the bonds of love and marriage.

Marriage after Divorce

 At St. Giles we do marry divorcees, but we are obliged to follow certain guidelines laid down by the Diocese of Rochester.  The procedure is as follows:

 This procedure is to make sure that couples are properly cared for pastorally and that the church’s integrity is safeguarded.

We realise how sensitive and painful it can be to discuss past experiences, and we place strong emphasis on dealing with those involved in an understanding and supportive way.  Given that there are so many other wedding venues available, we acknowledge that in seeking a church wedding you will be wanting to make a fresh start, not only in the eyes of your family and friends, but in God’s eyes too.  We recognise and value this sentiment, and will do all that we can to facilitate a new beginning for you both.

 We hope this information has been of help to you. Please do not hesitate to get in touch on the above e-mails and telephone numbers.

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