We’ve decided to get married in a church because we both feel more comfortable with a religious ceremony. The ceremonies offered by register offices and hotels were lovely, but they weren’t exactly what we were looking for. We felt we wanted to have something a bit more spiritual.
I’ve always felt very close to St Leonard’s Church in Ribbesford. It’s not my local parish church, but I’ve always felt drawn to it, and whenever Paul and I visit Bewdley, we always go and see it. It’s an ancient church, dating back to Saxon times, and it still has an original Norman arch. It’s set in the beautiful woodlands of the Severn Valley, and it really is a magical place. It’s so peaceful, and whatever the time of year, it’s always filled with birdsong and a happy atmosphere.
As this wasn’t the parish church for either of us, there were several problems, so we went to see Stan, the verger of St Leonard’s. He was really kind, and very helpful. As soon as we said hello to him we felt welcome. We talked through everything we needed to know. Stan explained that, in order to get married in St Leonard’s, we would have to be placed on the electoral roll. To do this, we would have to attend services for six months. He booked the date for us, and told us he’d sort out everything we needed.
Since we spoke to Stan, we’ve been going regularly, and it’s really lovely to feel part of the community there. The people in the congregation are terribly friendly, and it really feels like ‘our’ church now. I’m even singing in the choir for someone else’s wedding next week – I’ll let you know how it goes!
