Getting married at St Andrew’s, Hittisleigh

Welcome Useful contact

Congratulations on your decision to get information: married! It is one of the most precious milestones in our lives and we hope that you Mrs Lucy Shields, might choose to celebrate it in one of our Weddings Co-ordinator beautiful, sacred buildings like St Andrew’s, Tel: 01647 432265 Hittisleigh. Every wedding is a unique [email protected] occasion, rooted and grounded in God’s love, (for all initial enquiries, details and we would welcome the opportunity to speak with of fees, dates available, etc) you about your plans and how we might help you to mark what we believe to be a gift and a very special way of life. Revd Dr Harriet Every St Andrew’s is one of a family of eleven beautiful churches Associate Vicar here in West called The Whiddon Mission Tel: 01647 432402 Community; ranging from on to [email protected] . We have produced this short guide in light of the number of people who want a church wedding Revd Paul Seaton-Burn or blessing here. Team Rector Tel: 01647 432880 Many couples come from across the UK and beyond to [email protected] be married here; some may have long-standing family ties or have visited here in the past. Some come to our Churchwarden: ancient Devon churches for Wedding Blessings or for the Anthony Matthews Renewal of Vows or for the Blessing of Rings. Not Tel: 01647 24395 surprisingly, they become very special places for many [email protected] people throughout their lives.

We welcome you to our ancient church and pray that Please see below for you will know God’s peace here, wherever you travel useful information about from. getting married here

The Revd Paul Seaton-Burn Team Rector of the Whiddon Mission Community

For more information about getting married in church have a look at: www.yourchurchwedding.org

Getting married at St Andrew’s, Hittisleigh DID YOU KNOW..?

Preparation THAT it may be possible to be married in church if you have We always meet up with you and support you during been married before? your preparations for your marriage. Having arranged to meet Lucy, our Weddings Co-ordinator, nearer the time We believe that God, shown to you’ll also meet with the priest taking your service. They us in Jesus, is a God of forgiveness will talk you through the Order of Service, your marriage and new life. Because of this we vows and other aspects of the ceremony, eg. if you have have welcomed a number of children, how we might involve them in the service. couples here to be married where one or both have been married We also have a rehearsal at St Andrew’s in the days before. Please contact us for leading up to your big day to familiarise yourself with more information. what’s involved and calm the nerves!

Your wedding

We always encourage you to make your wedding day Our church especially meaningful to you both by your choice of music and readings and decorating the church. As well as a Bible St Andrew's, Hittisleigh, is a reading, many people include poetry, prayers and other friendly, welcoming church and has readings and music from a range of styles and traditions been at the heart of this small for their service. Couples often choose to book an Devon community for at least organist (provided through Lucy) or other musicians for 1,000 years. their ceremony, and recorded music is allowed too (with The building is open daily and was sufficient notice). described by the late John

If you would like to include bells and/or a choir, then Betjeman as "an adorable little please speak to Lucy when completing your wedding church". Some of the beautifully form. There is no deposit to pay on booking - although carved oak roof beams and we would need to be told if your plans change - fees are decoration date back to the time payable one month before the date of your ceremony. of Henry VII. Originally, our church would have been built of Are we allowed to get married here? cob and thatch by Saxons, being rebuilt in stone following the It is now a little easier to be married in a church of your arrival of the Normans in the 11th choice, even if you have no family or historic connection century. The granite tower dates with the parish. We will talk through the options available from the late 1400’s. to you when you meet our Weddings Co-ordinator and/ or the priest taking your service. Services are held here four Sundays a month, usually at 11am (you’ll find details in the porch or DID YOU KNOW..? in the Whiddon magazine, available

in church). Everyone is welcome THAT you do not have be ‘christened’ (or ‘baptised’) or be a regular churchgoer to be married in church? to come along.

If you or your partner have different beliefs, we’d be Looking across to the hills of happy to meet with you and talk through how we Dartmoor, St Andrew’s is on The might help you. For Jesus there are no ‘outsiders’ and Two Moors’ Way and has it’s the same for the Church of . welcomed many travellers and pilgrims throughout it’s long We’d also be happy to help you celebrate a special history. May you know God’s wedding anniversary or blessing of wedding rings, too. blessing on your life’s journey too.