BOOKING YOUR WEDDING

Under the new Church of England Marriage Measure 2008 the following are the qualifying connections which determines who may marry in one of the Harborough Anglican Team churches:

One or both of you -

• were baptised in one of the Team Churches
• were confirmed in one of the Team Churches
• have a parent or grandparent married in one of the parishes by a Church of England Service.
• have lived in one of the Team Parishes for a period of six months or more
• have a parent who has lived in one of the Team Parishes for not less then six months during your lifetime
• has habitually attended worship in one of the Team Churches for a period of not less than six months.
• have a parent who has habitually attended worship in one of the Team Churches for a period of not less than six months.

To satisfy the conditions of the new Church of England Marriage Measure 2008 you will be asked to complete an initial form “Qualifying Connection Statement” and, in some cases, will be asked to supply documentary evidence in support of your application. When this form has been completed and the documentary evidence seen and accepted by the Team Rector you will then be invited to complete a further form with your personal details. It is important to give all the information requested on these forms and that the information is accurate. Should your circumstances change before your wedding (i.e. a change of employment or address) you are required to inform the Team Co-ordinator of these changes as soon as possible. All information required is for legal reasons, not solely for church use.

If either or both of you have been married before and your previous spouse is still alive, you will need to make an appointment with The Team Rector who will be able to discuss the possibility of marriage in church. Any final decision is with the agreement of the Team Rector.

This is an important legal preliminary to your wedding. Banns are read at the main service in the church where you will be married. They are read three times, on three consecutive Sundays in the couple of months before your wedding. We will advise you of the exact dates and time.
If you live in one of the Team Parishes and are marrying at a church elsewhere then it is a legal requirement that your Banns be read at the parish church where you live as well as the church where you are to be married. The current fee for the reading of banns and the issue of a Banns Certificate is £34. To arrange for your banns to be read please contact the Team Office on any Saturday between 10.00 am and 12 noon and we will make the necessary arrangements. After completion of the Reading you will need to collect your Banns certificate from the Team Office. The fee for Reading of Banns for a marriage outside of theTeam and issuing a certificate is £34 which will be payable when you collect the certificate.

For bookings and enquiries for weddings and reading of Banns please contact the Team Co-Ordinator Liz Markham either by phone: (01858) 440265 (except Mondays) or by email: elizabeth.markham1@ntworld.com or in person by calling in at the Team Office in St. Dionysius Church on Saturday mornings between 10am and 12noon. No appointment is necessary.
You will be asked to complete the form "Banns of Marriage Application". It is important to give all the information requested on the form and that it is accurate. Should any of the details recorded on this form change before your wedding you are required to inform the Team Co-ordinator of these changes as soon as possible. The information on your Banns of Marriage Application are used to record your wedding in the Marriage Registers and therefore must be accurate and complete.