BAPTISMS / WEDDINGS

PLANNING A BAPTISM? We welcome enquiries for Baptism - either for yourself or one of your family. Baptisms normally take place during our main morning services: 9.00am at Little Canfield Church 10.30am at Takeley Church Baptisms can be arranged for most Sundays, so do please telephone to enquire and we will be pleased to meet with you to discuss Baptism and the baptism service. Please speak to Rev. Laurie Bond (01279) 870837. GETTING MARRIED? Are you thinking of a Church Wedding? We very much welcome enquiries about a marriage in our churches at Takeley and Little Canfield. If you are planning to be married, please contact the parish priest as soon as possible to discuss the details and to book the time and date of a service. Weddings may take place on any day of the week (not just Saturdays!). From time to time we get requests for more than one wedding on a particular day. Where this occurs there will be a minimum of two hours between each service, allowing plenty of time for each one. Each service is designed to be special for the couple concerned, and we will discuss the options available to you, such as the choice of hymns, reading, music etc. A service usually lasts between 45 minutes and an hour. There are various legal requirements in respect of the vows that you exchange, and we will use the Marriage Service from the “Common Worship Pastoral Services”, approved by the General Synod of the Church of England and by an Act of Parliament. A copy of the service will be given to you when your booking is confirmed. This booklet is designed to answer some of the common questions that couples ask when planning their marriage. So do read this booklet carefully and then ask us if you have any further questions. Do you Qualify to Marry in Takeley or Little Canfield Churches? If either of you live within the church parish boundary of Takeley, you qualify to marry in Holy Trinity Church, Takeley. If either of you live within the church parish boundary of Little Canfield, you qualify to marry in All Saints’ Church, Little Canfield. If both of you live outside those parishes, you may still qualify to marry there if one of you meets one or more of the following criteria: a) if you were baptised in the parish. b) if you have your confirmation entered in a church register book of a church or chapel in the parish; c) if you have at any time had your usual place of residence in the parish for at least 6 months; d) if you have at any time habitually attended public worship in the parish for at least 6 months; e) if a Parent of that person has at any time during that person’s lifetime, had his or her usual place of residence in the parish for at least 6 months; or habitually attended public worship in the parish for at least 6 months; f) if a Parent or Grandparent of that person was married in the parish. Have either of you been married before? In our parishes it is possible for us to take marriages where one or both partners have been married before, but only where this is a request for a second marriage. This is not an automatic right, but each situation will be considered by the parish priest and consideration given in light of your circumstances. If you would like to discuss your circumstances, please arrange a meeting with the parish priest. Blessing of a Civil Marriage in Church If we are unable to agree to a marriage in church after divorce, we would be prepared to consider a service of blessing after a civil ceremony. Please ask for further details. Banns of Marriage Banns of Marriage are part of the legal process for arranging most marriages. Banns are public announcements made in Sunday services in church. If you both live in either Takeley or Little Canfield, we will read the Banns on three consecutive Sundays in the three months before your marriage. If one or both of you live outside our parishes you will need to have Banns read in your home parish or parishes – that is, your Anglican parish church. It will be necessary for you to contact your local parish priest(s) at least three months prior to your marriage. It is your legal responsibility to ensure that the Banns are called. After the three readings, you will need to collect a Banns Certificate, and pay the parish priest there the appropriate fee. This certificate will need to be handed to the priest taking your wedding at your wedding rehearsal before they can marry you. There can be no marriage without the Banns Certificate(s). Are you planning to move before your Marriage? Once you have completed the initial application for marriage, you must keep the parish priest informed if you move house before the ceremony, or are planning to do so. Moving house could affect the legal position of your marriage. The usual pattern for arranging a Marriage 1)Initial discussion with the parish priest, at which a provisional booking can be made. 2)The couple can then consider the various parts of the service and decide what they would like for their service. 3)We will arrange some meetings with you to prepare you for some of the key issues involved in marriage and discuss how to see your marriage grow stronger in the years to come. 4)We hope that you will attend some of the services at the church you are to be married in, particularly on the Sundays at which your Banns of Marriage are read. 5)About three months before your marriage you will need to contact the parish priest to discuss your service in detail, arrange dates for reading the Banns of Marriage, and to book a date and time for a rehearsal in church. 6)Before an Order of Service is printed the parish priest must agree the draft copy. 7)Wedding rehearsal to discuss any final details. 8)Marriage Service We then hope that you will keep in touch with the parish after your marriage. It is good to welcome couples back to our services, and to baptise children in the future. We also welcome the opportunity for you to renew your wedding vows on special anniversaries. Orders of Service It is not essential to print an Order of Service, but with modern methods of computer printing it is easy to do, without spending a fortune on professional printing if your budget is tight. They can be reminders of your special day and are often treasured in family albums. We can give you examples of how to set out Orders of Service, but we ask that final copies are not printed until the details have been agreed by the parish priest. Flowers Couples are able to decorate the church with flowers of their choice, to match any colour schemes they may have for their wedding. Flowers may be put in vases on the communion table, on flower pedestals around the church, on the ends of pews or chairs, or on window ledges. (No permanent fixings can be used) At Takeley Church there are some flower arrangers who would be happy to supply and arrange flowers of your choice. However, at both churches we welcome outside flower arrangers to come and decorate the church. When the churches are locked, we can arrange access to the church on request. On occasions where there is more than one wedding at the church on the same day, we encourage couples to consult with one another about colour schemes and to look at sharing the cost of decorating the church. Whilst some pedestals may be transferred to the venue for the wedding reception, we would encourage couples to leave other flowers in church for the Sunday services. Music The parish priest will arrange for an organist to play for your ceremony. However, couples may request that a relative or friend can play for the service. At Takeley Church a choir is available to lead the singing, and they can sing an anthem during the signing of the registers. It is usual to have an organ voluntary as the couple enter and another when they depart. If no choir is required, the organist can also play during the signing of the registers. If a couple would like a relative or friend to sing a solo or play an instrument during the ceremony, then please discuss this with the parish priest. Couples often ask for suggestions for music during the service. Most of these pieces may be listened to on the internet if you wish to know what they sound like: Arrival of the Bride: Bridal March from LohengrinWagner Wedding MarchMendelssohn Arrival of the Queen of ShebaHandel Trumpet VoluntaryClarke Prelude from Te DeumCharpentier Grand March from AidaVerdi Signing of the Register: Jesu joy of man’s desiringBach Ave MariaSchubert CanonPachelbel Panis AngelicusFranck Air: Suite No 3 in GBach Ave MariaBach/Gounod Departure of the Bride and Groom: ToccataWidor Hallelujah from MessiahHandel Trumpet Tune and AirPurcell If you would prefer something else, then please discuss this with the parish priest. If the sheet music is available and it is possible for it to be played on our organ, then we will accommodate as many requests as we can. It is possible to arrange for some recorded music to be played, but wherever possible it is better to have “live” music. Please discuss any requests with the parish priest. Hymns Our preferred format for the ceremony is to have three hymns, but more or less can be sung. Please try and choose hymns that are appropriate for your ceremony and which are well known, as this encourages good singing! Some couples ask for suggestions to help them choose hymns, and once again, these can usually be heard on the internet if you don’t know them. Some of the most regularly requested are: All creatures of our God and King All things bright and beautiful Amazing Grace Come down, O love divine Dear Lord and Father of mankind For the beauty of the earth Father, hear the prayer we offer Guide me, O thou great redeemer Immortal, invisible, God only wise Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us Lord of all hopefulness Love divine all loves excelling Morning has broken One more step along the world I go Praise my soul the King of heaven Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation Shine, Jesus Shine The King of Love my Shepherd is The Lord’s my Shepherd Readings At each ceremony we have at least one Bible reading. If more than one reading is requested, then the second one may be from the Bible, or it could be a reading or poem from some other source, provided that it is in accordance with the Christian faith. Any non Bible reading must be discussed with the parish priest before it is included. Readings are an ideal way of including relatives or friends in the service. They need to be capable of reading loudly and clearly and to practice what you have asked them to read. If you have nobody available to read read, then the minister conducting the service will read the passage. Some regularly requested passages, but not the only options, are: 1 Corinthians 13 Love If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. John 2 : 1 – 11 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. John 15 : 9 – 12 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Matthew 7 : 21, 24 – 27 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Genesis 1 : 26 – 28, 31 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Ephesians 3 : 14 – 21 For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Mark 10: 6 – 9, 13 – 16 Jesus replied. "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. Bells There are four bells at each of our churches, and these may be rung at the end of the wedding service. At Takeley this must be done by a team of four bellringers. However, at present we do not have a band of ringers. On request however, we will endeavour to invite ringers from another church to come and ring for your service, but we must pass on the cost as part of the fee charged. At Little Canfield the bells are chimed by one person, and this can be arranged for each service. Photographs and Videos The marriage service is an important and serious act of worship, so we must ask wedding guests not to use cameras or video recorders during the service. However, the official photographer may discuss with the parish priest about taking photographs, without flash, during the service. The photographer will also be invited to photograph the signing of the registers. It is possible to arrange for the service to be videod under special circumstances, but this must be discussed with the parish priest and the arrangements adhered to. Photography inside the church is permitted before the ceremony begins and once the couple start to process out of church after the signing of the registers. On these occasions flash photography is permitted. We encourage couple to have photographs outside the church after the ceremony. Should the weather be unsuitable, then you are welcome to return into the church for photographs. Confetti We are happy for confetti to be used at both churches, provided it is biodegradable (some confetti has silver foil mixed in, which is definitely not permitted). Parking There is car parking available at both churches. At Takeley Church there is a single track lane to the car park, which must be kept free at all times. Car parking must be supervised by a church member on most occasions, and a fee is chargeable for this. For those guests with disabilities, they can be dropped of and collected at the church door, but the car then moved to the car park during the service. At Little Canfield Church there is a large parking area available (by courtesy of one of our church members). Cars should be parked as neatly as possible and the church lane must be kept clear at all times. Ushers We request that each couple provides ushers to welcome their guests and to distribute orders of service as people arrive. Ushers should arrive at least 45 minutes before a ceremony starts. They should also check that the church has been left tidy afterwards, with any service sheets and litter collected and dealt with. The Wedding Rehearsal A date for a rehearsal will be arranged. It is essential that the couple are present. In addition, if parents, bridesmaids, best man, ushers etc. would like to come along, they would be most welcome. However, it is not essential, especially where they live some distance away and will only be travelling on the day of the ceremony. During the rehearsal the couple can walk through the ceremony and be reminded of the promises they will make. Arrangements can be made to reserve seats for the main family members etc. There is an opportunity to discuss any other arrangements for the ceremony. At the rehearsal you will need to bring with you: 1)The Banns Certificate(s) – if banns have been read at another church. 2)The Wedding Fee – either in cash or by cheque Wedding Fees 2009/2010 The cost of a church wedding will be: Publication of Banns£22* (banns read in other parishes will normally cost a further £22 plus £12 for a certificate) Marriage Service£254* Organist£110 Heating (if required)£50 Choir (if required)£60 Bells (At Takeley – if band available)£80 Wedding administration, meetings & marriage preparation£100 Car Parking organiser (At Takeley)£20 Flowers (At Takeley)£120 *These items will increase slightly from January 2010, following an Act of Parliament setting fees for the year. Cheques should be made payable to “Takeley Parochial Church Council” or “Little Canfield Parochial Church Council” as appropriate. Fees may also be paid in cash. Retiring Collection It is also customary to have a plate at the back of church for a retiring collection towards the cost of maintaining our parish churches. A note to this effect should be included at the back of your Order of Service. Useful Names and Numbers Clergy: Rev. Laurie BondRector01279 870837 Rev. Teresa WynneCurate01279 870376 Flowers (Takeley): Mrs. Tricia Barber01279 870259 Organist: Mr. Martin Scott01799 543723