God loves everyone, and Christian marriage is open to all those who ask for a Christian wedding: you do not need to be baptised or confirmed in the Church of England.
We're delighted that you are exploring the possibility of celebrating your very special day in St Mary’s in Winchfield. Only in a church can you say the vows which have stood the test of time and have been said from one generation to the next. You can combine the deep meaning of a traditional wedding service with your own personal choices of hymns and readings to create a celebration that will resonate with you both and give lasting memories.
With its idyllic rural setting St Mary's is very special, and the simple but graceful interior, perhaps enhanced with decorations and floral arrangements, can provide a stunning setting for small to medium sized weddings.
Who can be married?
Marriage in the Church of England must be between a man and a woman over the age of 18 years (or over the age of 16 if you have the written consent of your parents).
You must not be married to anybody else, and may not be more closely related than first cousins.
If one or both of you are not British citizens, you will need to discuss the possibility of obtaining a Special Licence with the minister at the outset, before a date for your wedding can be confirmed.
Who can get married in St Mary's?
To be married in St Mary’s, one or other of you must :
Be resident in the parish.
or
Be on the Church Electoral Roll.
or
Have a Qualifying Connection with St Mary's.
Where can we get more information and help?
Arranging a wedding can be stressful with the complexities of organising the ceremony, the people attending, the celebrations afterwards and all the other myriad details. But rest assured we will endeavour to make things as straightforward as possible.
To discuss getting married in church and to check the availability of the church for weddings, please contact the Assistant Vicar, Rev'd Sam Chandler of the Benefice Office (see “Contact Us”).
The Church of England webpage (https://www.churchofengland.org/life-events/your-church-wedding) for weddings has a wealth of information about planning a service and its content, including suggestions for hymns, readings, and for music before during and after the service.
