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Congratulations on your forthcoming marriage!

Getting married is one of the biggest steps you will take in your life. We are glad that you are considering a wedding ceremony in one of the beautiful churches in our parish and we will be happy to do anything we can to help you on your way.

You have chosen to have a church ceremony conducted "according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England". It "must be undertaken reverently, responsibly, and after serious thought". Thus it is generally wise to dismiss fairly quickly any idea that this equates to something that you may have seen on the television!

The Church of England marriage service has legal status. Many of the words used in it are required by law and so cannot be altered. However, there are parts of the service where you can make your own choices, especially in choosing music, hymns and readings. We will offer advice in these areas but they are only suggestions and people frequently tap into many other resources that are available, especially on the Internet.

It is necessary that the priest who will conduct your marriage ceremony both sees and approves your choices, to ensure that they are appropriate for inclusion in a Christian service. He or she has the final say about what is acceptable for use in church.

Your first “port of call” should be the Parish Office at Guiseley Parish Church, entrance via Church Street - here there are people present to offer information and advice and to receive applications every Thursday evening between 6.30pm and 8.00pm with the exception of certain days when evening events in church necessitate the office session being held elsewhere. It is always nearby and an advice notice will be posted on the office door.

Who can get married in one of our churches?

Anyone who lives in the parish of Guiseley with Esholt is entitled by law to be married here.
If you have been married previously, you should not feel excluded. We help a number of couples each year who are in this situation and divorce is rarely an obstacle to re-marriage at one of the churches in this parish.
We also welcome people from outside this parish to be married here. Often our churches have special significance for people through historic, family or schools connections.

The Church of England has recently made getting married elsewhere than in your local parish church more straightforward. You simply need to show just one of the following seven connections with the parish:

That one of you:

was baptised in the parish concerned or
was prepared for confirmation in the parish or
has at any time lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months or
has at any time regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months or

That one of your parents, at any time after you were born:

has lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months or
has regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months or

That one of your parents or grandparents

was married in the parish

In all cases involving church services - i.e. going to normal church services, baptism, confirmation or marriage - this applies only to Church of England services.

Even if you cannot demonstrate any of the above connections, there are other ways of ‘qualifying’ to be married here. We will be glad to help you explore all the possibilities; simply come along and have a chat at the Parish Office any Thursday.

What is the cost of getting married in Guiseley or Esholt Churches?

Legal fees are set by the Archbishop’s Council. Local fees are set by the Parochial Church Council, to cover costs not covered by the legal fees.

The fee you pay is therefore made up of several parts:

Fee paid to the Parochial Church Council towards the maintenance, heating, lighting and services of the buildings.
Fee paid for the services of a priest (not kept by him/her, but part of his/her salary!)
Fee paid for the services of the Organist.
Fee paid for the services of the Verger.
Fee for a marriage certificate, the legal proof of your marriage.

Fees for 2009

Type of Fee	Cost
Legal and Parochial Church Council fee	£328.50
Priest’s fee (including Banns and Certificate)	£141.50
Organist’s Fee	£70
Verger’s Fee	£30
Total	£570

Optional/Additional Fees	Cost
Banns published in other churches	£34 ,including the certificate
The Bells at Guiseley	£150
The Bells at Esholt	£10
The Choir	£75
Permission to make video or sound recording	£90

Weblinks: Your Church Wedding