The population of Battersea is relatively young and needless to say our beautiful church is popular with couples seeking to get married. We try and work as hard as we can - within the constraints of English Marriage Law - to find a way for you to be married at St Mary's if you would like to.
If you live within the boundaries of St Mary's Parish you have a right to be married at St Mary's so long as there is no legal impediment. You do not need to have been baptised. You can also qualify if you can show that you have a historical connection with the Church or the Parish (e.g. you used to live in the parish, your parents or grandparents were married here; or you were baptised at St Mary's). Click here to see if you live within St Mary's Parish.
Church Members are also able to marry at St Mary's. Becoming a member means worshipping here regularly (at least twice a month for 6 months) and applying to go on the Church Electoral Roll (not the same thing as the local government electoral register). You must be baptised.
Please note that from 1st July 2021 the law has changed regarding marriage and immigration status. British and Irish Citizens, along with those with EU Settled Status under the EU Settled Status Scheme, are still able to marry in church using the traditional route of Banns of Marriage. All other couples where one or both are not British or Irish Citizens, or do not have EU Settled Status, will be required to apply for a Superintendent Registrar's Certificate in order to be married at St Mary's. The Home Office has told the Church of England that the application and screening process could take up to 70 days to complete, so you are strongly encouraged to make contact with us well in advance of your planned wedding date, so that we can help you complete the necessary administration in time to be married on your chosen wedding day.
A wedding ceremony marks only the beginning of a marriage and is a public witness before God to the love that two people have for each other. Getting married in church makes certain themes clearer: the idea of a covenant between the couple reflects the relationship between God and the world; the idea of the ‘sacrament of marriage’ reflects the miracle of what God is doing in human lives as the couple make promises to each other.
You can find out a lot more at yourchurchwedding.org.
Many couples choose to worship at St Mary’s as part of their wedding preparation. It’s a great way to become connected to the church and the community of which you will be a part as husband and wife.
At St Mary’s we understand that some marriages fail and we try to help people rebuild their lives in new relationships. If one or both you have been divorced and would like to discuss the possibility of being married a second time in church please do not hesitate to speak to one of the clergy. We suggest you do this before confirming the date with us.
At St Mary’s we want to be able to offer as much as the law allows for same-sex couples who are marrying or those entering into a Civil Partnership. We regret it is not currently legally possible to marry same-sex couples in church, and we look forward to the day when this is possible for every loving, committed couple, irrespective of gender. This means that at St Mary’s we try to do all we can to help people celebrate their relationship together including special services of prayer and dedication after a Civil Marriage or Civil Partnership ceremony.
We really value the personal touch in helping you with your wedding plans so we encourage you to make personal contact with one of the clergy at our Sunday services. Alternatively, please contact the Parish Office.
During the vacancy it may be best to contact the Parish Office :
You can download the wedding information pack for the current year. This will give you plenty of further information including the statutory and local fees.
Everyone resident within the parish boundaries has a right to be married by banns at St Mary’s so long as there is no legal impediment. You do not need to have been baptised. It is also possible to be married at St Mary’s if you can show that you have a historical connection with the Church (e.g. you used to live in the parish, your parents or grandparents were married here; or you were baptised at St Mary’s.
Church Members are also able to be married at St Mary’s. Becoming a member means worshipping here regularly (at least twice a month for 6 months) and applying to go on the Church Electoral Roll (which isn’t the same thing as the local government electoral register). You have to be baptised.
Marriage in the Church of England can be authorised in a number of ways.
I. Banns are the easiest and most commonly used method. They involve notice of your forthcoming wedding being read out in both the bride and the groom’s parish churches on three Sundays in the period three months before the wedding. If you both live in the same parish that is all that you need to do but if one of you lives in another parish banns will have to be called there too. It is customary for couples to attend the calling of their banns. These will take place during the main act of worship on Sundays. Attendance will help you feel more comfortable with the church surroundings and this will have obvious benefits in terms of your nervousness on the big day.
II. Licences are a quicker method than banns but more expensive. A common licence is usual where one or both people are foreign nationals, and a Special licence allows people to be married without the usual requirement of living in the parish or belonging to the Electoral Roll.
III. Superintendent Registrar’s Certificate. This is becoming a more common way of getting married for those where Banns or Licences are for some reason difficult. We now encourage many foreign nationals (especially Non-EU or non-Commonwealth Citizens) to use this route.
Full details on each of these ways of getting married can be obtained at Office Hour.
Read more about Marriage in the Church of England:
The text of the 1928 (old language) wedding ceremony
The text of the modern language (Common Worship 2000) wedding ceremony
The text of the 1662 (very old language) wedding ceremony
