WEDDINGS at St Mary's Parish Church, St Mary's Priory, Abergavenny
Thinking of a Church wedding?
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Congratulations! You are welcome to marry in church whether or not you are baptised, and now it is easier than ever. Following the Welsh marriages act of 2010, the legal conditions that need to be fulfilled have widened.
You can marry in one of the four Anglican churches (St Mary’s, Holy Trinity, Christchurch and St Peter’s, Llanwenarth) in the Abergavenny Group if you have the following qualifications:
That one of you:
- has at any time lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months; or
- was baptised in the parish concerned; or
- was prepared for confirmation in the parish; or
- has at any time regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months; or
That one of your parents, at any time after you were born:
- has lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months; or
- has regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months; or
That one of your parents or grandparents:
- was married in the parish
And did you know that if you move house, you’re immediately connected to the churches there? That means you can marry in the churches of your new parish.
Most couples who intend to get married in the Church in Wales ‘have their banns read’ some time before the ceremony takes place. This is a simple procedure which involves the priest making a public announcement of your intention to marry during services on three successive Sundays. However, there are also certain circumstances in which some form of licence, such as a Common Licence or Special Licence, is more appropriate. Your local priest will advise you about this.
So what do we need to do to book our wedding?
The first thing you need to do is to arrange to see the Rector by calling the Vicarage on (01873) 853168 or email: rector@stmarys-priory.org
The Marriage can only be ‘pencilled in’ initially. The Rector will discuss with you your wedding plans. Do you want a choir, church bells – and what about flowers? He will arrange to see you again at a later date.
Do I need to contact the Registrar?
The Rector will be able to advise you regarding the new regulations.
Do we have to get married on a Saturday?
No. Fridays are very popular days for Weddings. Provided the church is available you can get married on any day between 8am and 5pm. It is very unusual for us to conduct Marriages on Sunday due to the large number of Sunday Services at St Mary’s.
Weddings at the Priory Centre
The incomparable setting of St Mary’s Priory and the adjacent Priory Centre makes the site an ideal venue for your wedding celebrations.
For more information please contact the Facilities Coordinator on (01873) 735031 or manager@stmarys-priory.org.