Weddings, Funerals and Baptisms

Baptism / Christening

According to the Methodist Worship Book, Baptism (or Christening) marks entry into the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, of which the Methodist Church is part. The Methodist Church, like most denominations of the Christian Church, administers the sacrament to both adults and young children.

Is there an alternative to baptism for our child?

Some people choose to have an Act of Thanksgiving after the Birth or Adoption of a Child.

How do we go about getting our child baptised?

Parents wishing to have their child baptised should contact the Minister at the earliest possible moment. The Minister will be able to explain what is involved. This may include, in some cases, parents being willing to undertake a number of instruction sessions.

Do different denominations have different baptisms?

There is one Baptism, which is recognized by all the mainstream Churches that baptise infants, including the Methodist Church and the Church of England.

Can you be baptised as a child and as an adult - for instance if you return to the Church after a break?

In the Methodist Church baptism as an infant would normally be followed by confirmation and reception into membership at the point where the person wishes to take on the commitment and responsibility of Christian discipleship for themselves and to play a full part in the life of the Church.

This is best summed up in the Methodist Worship Book: "In Confirmation, those who have been baptized declare their faith in Christ and are strengthened by the Holy Spirit for continuing discipleship. Confirmation reminds us that we are baptized and that God continues to be at work in our lives: we respond by affirming that we belong to Christ and to the whole People of God. At a Service of Confirmation, baptised Christians are also received into membership of the Methodist Church and take their place as such in a local congregation."

There is no obvious difference in understanding, for example, between the Methodist Church and the Church of England about Confirmation itself. However, the Church of England does not have any strong sense of "membership" of the Church of England (so, for example, there is no transfer of membership when a person moves from one area to another).

If you have not been baptised as a child, you're welcome to be baptised as an adult and also brought into membership in the same service, if you require.

There is no charge for baptism services.

Weddings

At St Peter's, we cater for opposite-sex and same-sex couples, providing a full legal wedding which honours your relationship in the sight of God.

Congratulations on your engagement!

Whether you're an opposite-sex couple or a same-sex couple, we would love to be able to conduct your wedding at St. Peter's Methodist Church, and we hope to be able to provide you with a wonderful marriage ceremony.

A wedding in a church allows you to make your commitment to each other that little bit more special, by making your commitment to each other and promises before God.

Weddings at a Methodist Church are conducted by certificates. It is the responsibility of the wedding couple to visit the Registry Office and apply for certificates. Both of you must attend for a legal interview, by appointment, at the Registrar’s where you will be interviewed separately. You will need to bring certain documents and pay for this service which, if successful, will result in their NOTICE OF MARRIAGE being displayed at the Registrar’s for three weeks (in case there is a legal objection).

More information about these legal requirements, and the cost, can be found on the Government's Website.

After three weeks you will be issued with ‘Blue Forms’ (wedding authorities). It is the couple’s responsibility to make the legal interview appointment and to inform the Minister when they have received the ‘Blue Forms’—until then your Church Booking is merely provisional.

Once the certificates have been received (Blue Forms), the wedding couple should check that the information on them is correct, and then contact the Minister. The certificates will then be held in the church safe until the day of the wedding. If these Blue Forms are lost or destroyed you have to begin the whole process again! (The certificates are returned to the General Registry Office with a copy of the Marriage Returns, after the full Marriage Certificate has been completed and signed. (The Signing of the Registers).

Arrangement of a wedding normally involves 4 meetings with the Minister, with the final one being the wedding rehearsal.

There is a cost for weddings at the church, the fees will be dependent on your requirements.

Please contact the ministers for more information.

The Minister will discuss with you the content of the service, and there are various choices of set words to say. (There are certain legal words that have to be said).

Music

Music is a very personal choice, but the minister and organist will help you make that choice. The church has the facility to play pre-recorded music, or videos. Sound amplification for soloists can also be provided.

We do not insist on you attending the church either before or after your wedding, but of course you will be most welcome. You may choose to visit the church for one of our services before your wedding so you can see what it is like, and hear the acoustics of the music and the ambience of worship.

Hymns

There are a wide range of hymns and Christian songs that are available for weddings. We have a range of books to choose from, and can either print out words on a song sheet, or project the words on our screens.

The minister will be happy to discuss the options with you.

Processional and Recessional Music

Our organist will be pleased to offer advice on the wide variety of wedding music available, from the traditional Bridal March to something different as make your entrance, and for your triumphant exit as married couple. Alternatively suitable music can be played via CD or iPod.

Co-creating a Service

Your Minister will be happy to work with you to co-create a service for your special day. We want everyone to get the most out of the service, as it is one of the most important days of your life.

Have a think about what you may want to include in the service. Apart from hymns/songs, bible readings and prayers, we can also include music, poems, solos.

Live-streaming

We can also offer a live-stream of your service for those who are unable to attend on the day, please ask the minister for more details.

A Blessing of a Marriage previously solemnised

If you have been previously married in a registry office and would like a blessing of your marriage in church, or wish to celebrate an anniversary with a blessing of your relationship, we would be glad to welcome you at St. Peter's for a 'Blessing of a Marriage previously solemnised'.

This service would be especially applicable to same-sex couples who have been unable to celebrate their marriages in Christian Churches until now.

However, opposite-sex couples are more than welcome to book a service with our minister too.

There is a cost for blessings in the church, the fees will be dependent on your requirements, but there are no legal requirements to be fulfilled with the registry office as there are with a full legal wedding.

Please contact the ministers for more information.

Funeral Service and Bereavement

The end of a life can be a very sad, troubling and moving time, and we as a church would wish to help you in your grieving. We can do this in a range of ways, just through a visit from our minister, or by helping you arrange a funeral or memorial service.

Home Visits

After a bereavement we can come and visit and spend some time listening and sharing with you as you try to come to terms with what has happened. As Christians, we believe that there is a hope of eternal life, and that our saviour Jesus Christ has gone on ahead of us to "prepare a room for us in our Father's house" (John 14). We can come and simply listen, or we can offer prayers. Our intent is just to show the love of God in this difficult time. The gospels also remind us that when Jesus was told that one of his friends had died, he wept with the family. Jesus also said "Blessed are those who mourn; they shall be comforted."

Funerals

After you have spoken to your chosen undertaker, we can help put together a funeral service. We will work together with your to create a funeral fitting for your loved one. A funeral service can act as a moment of healing, as we remember and say goodbye to a loved one when we commend them to God.

At a funeral service, we give thanks for the life of the person that has died. We spend some time in thinking and remembering their life. We take comfort and strength from words of scriptures, and we pray for those who are left behind. During the service, it is also an opportunity to sing their favourite hymns, or hear their favourite piece of music or poems.

As a funeral service at the Crematorium is time limited, some families prefer to have a service in the local church first, followed by the committal at the Crematorium. Alternatively, it is possible to have a committal at a crematorium, followed by a Thanksgiving or Memorial service at the church on the same day or on a later date.

We can also conduct a short service at the crematorium, or by booking a double slot at the crematorium a longer service can be conducted.

For a burial, we can also conduct a service at the church followed by the committal at the graveside.

We can also offer a live-stream of your service for those who are unable to attend on the day; please ask the minister for more details.

Internment or spreading of Ashes

At a later date, when the family are ready, we can also assist in a short service of internment of ashes, or for the spreading of ashes.

Please contact the minister if we can help you in your time of bereavement.