marriages and banns

We are happy to arrange for marriages to take place at St Stephen's. A wedding is a joyful occasion and we will do all we can to make your day special and unique to you. The Church is a bright and open venue with moveable pews so the seating can be arranged as you would like it.  We can easily accommodate 150 guests or create a more intimate environment for smaller gatherings.

At least one of the parties must be resident in the parish or have what is called a ‘qualifying connection’ to St Stephen’s. Qualifying connections are:

1. The person concerned:

• Was baptised in the parish; or
• Has been confirmed and the confirmation has been entered in a church register book belonging to the parish. (This would have been done on the basis that the person concerned was prepared for confirmation in the parish); or has at any time had his or her usual place of residence in the parish for at least 6 months; or
• Has at any time habitually attended public worship in the parish for at least 6 months;

or

2. That person’s parent has at any time during the person’s lifetime: had his or her usual place of residence in the parish for at least 6 months, or habitually attended public worship in the parish for at least 6 months;

or

3. That person’s parent or grandparent was married in the parish.

Please contact the Vicar if you would like ‘qualifying connections’ explained or are not sure if you qualify under the above.

In a Christian marriage service we celebrate God’s gift of love as it is seen between bride and groom and we ask for God’s blessing on the couples years of marriage to come. The minister taking the service will meet with you to talk about the service and you will be invited to come along to marriage preparation sessions where you can spend time thinking more deeply about the vows and promises you will make to each other.

People between the ages of 16 and 18 can only marry with their parents’/guardians’ formal permission. We are happy to talk with those who have been previously married and are now divorced and seeking to enter into a new marriage.

You can find out more about weddings in the Church of England by visiting www.yourchurchwedding.org

We do not have a Vicar at present. To discuss making arrangements for your wedding to take place in St Stephen’s.

Email: administrator@ststephenscanonbury.org.uk
Telephone:  020 8616 5505 

If you are resident in the St Stephen’s parish and you are getting married in another church because the person you are marrying or you have a qualifying connection to that parish, you may need to have your Banns of Marriage read in St Stephen’s. You can ask the minister who is conducting your wedding to check whether this is necessary in your case.

If you are not sure whether you live in the parish, enter your postcode at http://www.achurchnearyou.com

Banns are read on 3 Sundays at the 11.00 am service within 3 months of your wedding date. After this, as long as no one has raised any legal objection to your marriage, a certificate is issued that must be given to the minister conducting your wedding.

There is a fee to pay for reading the banns and issuing the certificate. In 2024 this is £54.00.

If you would like to arrange to have your banns read in St Stephen’s, contact the administrator.

Email: administrator@ststephenscanonbury.org.uk

Telephone:  020 8616 5505