Getting married in Christchurch Priory
Christchurch Priory is a beautiful Church and is a special place to many families. It’s therefore not surprising that we have many couples wishing to be married here. We are always delighted to support couples in their marriage preparations but there are often lots of questions in the early stages please contact the Parish Office and we can provide you with a copy of our Wedding booklet.
If you would like to be married in Christchurch Priory, the first step in the process is to speak with our Interim Vicar. They will run through with you your eligibility to be married here, make sure there is no legal reason why they can not marry you here and identify a date / time for your service. We are subject to national rules on who can be considered eligible to marry in this Church. The typical criteria which would grant eligibility are:
- One of you having been baptised in the Parish
- One of you having been confirmed in the Parish
- One of your parents or grandparents having been married in the Parish
- One of both of you having lived in the Parish for at least six months
- One of your parents having lived in the Parish for at least six months (during your lifetime)
- One or both of you having regularly attended our services for at least six months
- One of your parents having regularly attended our services for at least six months (during your lifetime)
However, the Interim Vicar must establish your eligibility for themselves and will talk you through how to establish a connection by regular attendance if that is the appropriate route for you.
We are flexible on when weddings happen; dates which fall on Monday to Saturday are possible, but we don’t book weddings on a Sunday. We will always try to make your preferred date work but, if getting married here is an essential part of your wedding day, we therefore suggest that you don’t book your reception etc until you have spoken with the Vicar and looked at which dates / times would be possible.
If you feel that you are ready to book a wedding at Christchurch Priory, please make contact with the Parish Office. They will identify a time when the Interim Vicar can meet with you both . It’s often possible for that to be outside “typical” working hours.
The Parish Office is generally staffed 9.30am – 3pm, Monday to Friday; our offices are not open to the public but please do feel free to get in touch by email parishoffice@christchurchpriory.org or phone 01202 143859.
Online enquiry form https://christchurchpriory.myiknowchurch.co.uk/led/enquiryForm/wedding
Baptism
Children
When a new baby arrives you, your family and friends want to celebrate. The Christian community in this Parish want to help you say thank you for this new life. In Baptism your child is welcomed into the Church and begins the journey into faith.
Baptisms at The Priory Church take place within a stand alone Service at 12.00pm on the third and fourth Sunday of each month. The Service usually lasts for about half an hour.
In order for us to be able to baptise your child, it is first necessary for at least one of the parents to attend a baptism preparation session. These take place on the first Saturday of most months at 10.00am in Christchurch Priory, meeting by the font at the back of the Church. There is a car park available (charges apply) and children are welcome to come along – the sessions usually last for no longer than 45 minutes.
At the preparation session you will be handed the application form for the baptism of your child (or we can send you an online form) and if you know the date that you wish the actual Service to take place on, we can confirm that.
We also hold baptism Services at St George’s Church on dates to be agreed by the family and our Ministry Team. It is still a requirement to attend one of the preparation sessions if you wish the Service to be held at St George’s.
It would be helpful if you can let us know when you’re planning to attend a baptism preparation day, please contact the Parish Administrator, details below. We look forward to meeting you and your family
Adults
We are also able to support adults who wish to be baptised. For more information about Adult Baptism please contact our Parish Administrator – they will connect you with a member of the Clergy.
More information
For availability, to let us know you’re coming along to baptism preparation or to ask anything about baptism, please contact our Parish Administrator on parishoffice@christchurchpriory.org or on 01202 143859.
Online Enquiry Form
https://christchurchpriory.myiknowchurch.co.uk/led/enquiryForm/baptism
Funerals
Organising a funeral can be a distressing experience. Here in the Parish of Christchurch, we want to help make the process go as smoothly as possible for those who are grieving.
A funeral can be held in the Priory, or in St George’s Church at Jumpers, for anyone who has lived within the Parish of Christchurch or has worshipped in our Churches. It is also possible to conduct funerals in other circumstances, with the agreement of the Vicar. Our clergy are also available to conduct funeral services at a crematorium or a local cemetery.
Most often funeral directors will coordinate directly with the Parish Office to agree a time and date for the Service. It is also possible for relatives or executors to contact us directly by email on parishoffice@christchurchpriory.org or by telephone 01202 143859. The member of Clergy will then meet with the family member / friend who is making arrangements to plan the details of the Service and to offer pastoral support if that’s helpful.
We charge statutory Church of England fees for the funeral Services and set out a schedule of rates each year. These can be provided on request.
Online Enquiry Form
https://christchurchpriory.myiknowchurch.co.uk/led/enquiryForm/funeral
Remembrance
In our regular Services, prayers are said for those who have recently died. We also maintain a “Year’s Mind” where loved ones are remembered in our prayers on the anniversary of their passing. If you would like us to remember someone in prayer, forms are available in Christchurch Priory and St George’s Church or you can request one from the Parish Office.
A special Service is also held on the Saturday closest to 2nd November which is All Saints Day. Anyone is welcome to attend and list the name of a loved one that they would like to remember during the Service through the lighting of a candle.
During Christchurch Priory’s opening hours, anyone is welcome to come in and light a candle. There are usually two candle stations – one at the West End of the Church and one by St Stephen’s Chapel – our welcome team or Verger will show you where these locations are if you are unsure.
Christchurch Priory can also be floodlit in remembrance of a departed loved one. Details are available online here.
Garden of Rest
The Garden of Rest outside Christchurch Priory is managed by the Parish. The cemetery near St George’s Church is under Local Authority control so enquiries should be directed accordingly.
The scattering of ashes in our Garden of Rest is not permitted but, so long as the qualifying criteria are met, up to two sets of ashes can be interred into each plot. We do have a set of regulations for the Garden of Rest which will be provided to anyone making an enquiry. Plots are allocated at the time of need, and may not be reserved in advance.
If you wish to enquire about interring a loved one’s ashes at Christchurch Priory, please contact the Vergers on vergers@christchurchpriory.org or by ringing the Vestry on 01202 143866.