Marriage
We enjoy weddings and would want to encourage you to think about getting married in a Church service where your vows will be made and your marriage blessed in the name and presence of God. A choir is available for weddings and bells and bell ringers are available at St. Andrew’s, Grinton.
Can we get married in this parish?
You have the right in law to marry in a parish where:
one (or both) of you are resident;
one (or both) of you is on the Church electoral roll (i.e. you worship regularly in the church);
one (or both) of you has a legally defined ‘Qualifying Connection’ with the parish.
Information about these connections can be downloaded here
And for more detailed information, see:
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/weddings
There are many websites of marriage information. This one may be useful as you plan your wedding in a Church of England parish church: http://www.yourchurchwedding.org/
Please contact the Vicar as early as possible to book a date, to arrange the reading of banns of marriage and to discuss your wedding service.
Baptism
Baptisms take place during Sunday morning services, where the person being baptised can be welcomed into the Church family. Adults as well as children can be baptised. We also offer a service of Thanksgiving for the Birth of a Child if you feel that is more appropriate for your situation.
Our information booklet about baptism can be downloaded here
See also: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/baptismconfirm/baptism1.html
Please contact the Vicar to arrange a meeting with you and a date for the Baptism. (NB It is usually helpful if you can have this conversation before you book a venue for a Baptism party or lunch.)
Confirmation
Confirmation is a service conducted by a Bishop, when an adult makes a public declaration of their Christian faith. If you wish to be confirmed, please contact the Vicar for an initial meeting. If you have not been baptised, this can happen in the same service as your Confirmation.
The Church of England website has more information about Confirmation: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/baptismconfirm/sectionc.html
Funerals
Our local Funeral Director, who lives in Swaledale, is Simon Barningham.
He can be contacted on 01748 884327. Services usually take place in church, or at Darlington Crematorium.
We have found that a helpful book for those who have been bereaved is ‘Grieving, a Beginner’s Guide’, by Jerusha Hull Mccormack, published by Darton, Longman and Todd 2005. ISBN 0-232-52629-X
Families and Children in Church
We welcome people of all ages to our services but do not currently have any Sunday School provision. In each church, books and toys are available in a children’s area.
During each long school holiday - Summer, Christmas and Easter - there is an event for families and children in the parish. These have included a picnic with a storyteller, a nativity in a barn and an Easter crafts afternoon.
Local children take part in Harvest, Mothering Sunday, Christmas and other services and celebrations throughout the year.
