God has given His Church seven sacraments. These are: Baptism; Confirmation; Marriage; Reconciliation (Confession & Absolution); Ordination; Holy Communion; and Unction (anointing with Holy Oil in a time of ill-health or spiritual peril, or when death is imminent). The Sacraments are channels to us of God's grace and strength, and as such are precious to Christians. Anyone who is to receive any Sacrament should have a proper understanding of its Christian significance and be ready to uphold the Church's traditional teaching about it.

Many people think of themselves as Christian, but in fact have not made a commitment of their life to Christ. For many such people, their only contact with the Sacraments - or indeed any Christian practice or worship - is when they visit a church for a wedding or a Christening. Anyone seeking Baptism or a wedding in church but who does not worship regularly should consider whether they are seeking those things on a proper Christian basis or simply as a 'rite of passage', for which adequate secular provision is made at Registry Offices.


BAPTISM ('Christening')
Baptism (or 'Christening' as it is sometimes called) by water and the Holy Spirit is the Sacrament by which we become members of the Church, the body of Christ that exists not only here on earth, but also in heaven (the Saints) and as those who have died and now await the end of days. Baptism is not primarily a naming ceremony - although the name of the person being baptised is important in the ceremony and adults coming to baptism will sometimes take a new name, usually that of a saint, at their Baptism; nor is it primarily a thanksgiving for the birth of a new baby, although we always give thanks to God for the gift of human life.

Baptism is a gift, but it also imposes obligations, most importantly to worship God in church and to seek actively and conscientiously to be formed and educated by life in the Church as Christians who live to serve Jesus Christ. Those seeking Baptism at St Mary's will be asked to make a commitment to regular worship as part of their preparation for Baptism and ongoing life in the Church.

When an infant or very young child is baptised, his or her Godparents (and usually parents also) will make Christian declarations and promises on their behalf. Godparents must therefore be themselves already Baptised and living in a manner that is consistent with Christian teaching; ideally they should also be Confirmed. Parents who are not Baptised are welcome to attend the Baptism of their child and stand with their family at the font, but are not asked to make the Baptismal promises and cannot be Godparents to their children. Unbaptised parents who are seeking Baptism for their children may wish to speak to the parish priest about being Baptised themselves.

When an adult or older child is Baptised, they will also be Confirmed. Confirmation is administered by the Bishop and will require a course of instruction before it can take place.

To be Baptised or have your child Baptised in a parish church of the Church of England (such as St Mary's), you must either live within the boundaries of that parish, or have worshipped there regularly for at least six months and joined its Electoral Roll. (see map and postcode search system below)

There is no fee for Baptism or Confirmation.

If you wish to discuss Baptism (and/or Confirmation) at St Mary's for yourself or a child for whom you are responsible, or have any questions about this information, please contact the parish priest.


MARRIAGE
Christian Marriage is the union until their natural deaths of one man and one woman (their sexes at birth), for loving companionship and mutual support, the conceiving and bringing up of children, and avoidance of sexual sin. It is a wonderful and God-given institution. Christian Marriage is not open to same-sex couples, nor those who are not committed to their intended union as life-long or exclusive of all other partners (such as those who enter into a 'Pre-Nuptial Agreement' in provision for the future ending of their relationship). Those who have had a civil divorce and who have one (or more) spouse still alive will not be able to be married at St Mary's - although there are certain very limited circumstances in which, in consultation with the bishop, it may be discerned that the previous union was not a valid Marriage, and those concerned may be free to enter into Christian Marriage.

If you can answer 'yes' to the three following questions, the arrangements for your marriage should be fairly straightforward. If the answer is 'no' or you are not sure, your marriage can only take place at St Mary's subject to the complete and satisfactory resolution of those issues, which in some cases can take some time and, in the case of immigration issues, may involve referral to the Superintendant Registrar and the Home Office and may involve additional expense. Unfortunately, not all such issues will be able to be resolved such that a marriage can take place at St Mary's.

a) would this be the first time that you have each been married either in a religious or civil ceremony? (ie, neither of you is previously married and divorced from someone who is still alive)
b) do one or both of you live at a permanent address within the boundaries of the CofE parish of Kenton? (the 'residence requirement' - you will need to supply documentary proof of a permanent residence within the parish, such as a recent utility bill) (see map and postcode search system below)
c) are you both citizens of countries within the European Economic Area*? (this concerns your immigration status under the Immigration Act 2004)

* The European Economic Area comprises the Member States of the European Union, plus Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway.

Change in the 'residence requirement' applicacble from October 1st 2008
An engaged couple will be welcome to request to be married in the parish church, subject to all other requirements being satisfied, if any one of the following residence qualifications applies:

- one of them was baptised or prepared for confirmation in the parish
- one of them has ever lived in the parish for six months or more
- one of them has at any time regularly attended public worship in the parish for six months or more
- one of their parents has lived in the parish for six months or more in their child’s lifetime
- one of their parents has regularly attended public worship there for six months or more in their child’s lifetime
- their parents or grandparents were married in the parish.

Any request under these new arrangements will need to be supported by documentary proof.

Fees are levied for Weddings. Some of these are set by the authorities; some are set by the parish (for example, use of the organ, organist's and choir fees, and a maintenance charge for heating and lighting). These may total between £500 and £700 and so constitute a relatively small proportion of what is often spent overall on a wedding. A deposit will be taken at the time a wedding is booked and the balance of the fees must be paid in full at least one month before the wedding is to take place. In cases of hardship, please discuss this with the parish priest.

Those wishing to be married at St Mary's will be asked to make a commitment to regular worship as part of their preparation for Christian Marriage.

If you wish to discuss getting married at St Mary's, or have any questions concerning this information, please contact the parish priest.

The 'Service of Prayer and Dedication after a Civil Marriage' (commonly referred to as a 'Wedding Blessing') following the divorce of either party from someone who is still alive is not offered at St Mary's, Kenton.


PARISH MAP AND POSTCODE SEARCH
To be Married or Baptised (or have your child Baptised) in a parish church of the Church of England, you must either live within the boundaries of that parish, or have worshipped there regularly for at least six months and joined its Electoral Roll, and satisfy other requirements as outlined above.

To check precisely in which parish you live, type your postcode into the box below, press the 'Find Parish' Button and follow the instructions in the page that will open to identify your exact location and parish.