Getting married in a Methodist Church
If you are interested in getting married in our church, here are some guidelines to help.
What is the first step?
A couple wishing to get married should contact the minister who will be pleased to discuss your plans.
One of us is divorced. Is that OK?
The rules and laws relating to divorce are made by the state. The Methodist Church is generally willing to marry people who have been divorced, while their previous spouse is still alive, as long as there are not major obvious reasons why it would be inappropriate. Our minister will explain the legalities about going to the registrar for a certificate.
Does one of us have to be a Methodist?
A church marriage is a solemn Christian ceremony, with prayers and Bible readings reflecting Christian understandings of what marriage is about. People wishing to marry in a Methodist church do not need to be church members, but most ministers will look for a genuine desire on the part of a couple to take their marriage seriously along the lines set out in the service. Discussing what this means in practice will be part of the marriage preparation.
What if we are from two different denominations?
Many marriages in Methodist churches include people from different Christian denominations. Sometimes, people from different faiths marry – and there is advice available for such marriages.
Further information
Please contact the minister to discuss your particular circumstances and plans. The minister can also be contacted via the church office.