Weddings at St Anne's

Anyone who lives in St Anne's or St James's parish may get married at St Anne's in Thorburn Square or at St James in Thurland Rd  - you don't have to be a regular churchgoer, nor do you have to have been baptised (or Christened).

Just  email us to make a booking or phone the church office on 020 3643 2327.


Wedding FAQS

Why get married anyway? Christians believe that marriage is a special relationship created by God. It involves a public commitment to a lifelong relationship of faithfulness and love between a man and a woman.

This commitment is spelled out in the vows that the couple make to each other in the marriage service. Christians believe that marriage with its commitment to permanence offers the degree of stability and security that we all need in relationships and that our children also need.

What is the difference between marriage and living together? Marriage is based on a public declaration of lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. With living together there may or may not be a commitment for life and usually the commitment has not been expressed publicly.

What if we don't live in the parish?In some cases others who have a strong link with the church, but do not live in the parish, are able to marry at St Anne's. Please contact the church office for details


What about remarriages?
Where one person has been married before and the previous partner is still alive normally a Service of Prayer & Dedication after a Civil Marriage is offered, though in exceptional circumstances a full church wedding may be possible under the latest Church of England guidelines.

How much does a wedding in church cost?
The legal fees for a wedding in the Church of England in 2018 are shown here.

In addition there are a few extras which we can tell you about when you book your wedding, many of them are optional, so it depends on what you want to include on your big day.

They include fees for the verger, organist, heating, & bells.


Planning your wedding in church

What hymns can we have at our wedding? There is a wide choice of possible hymns. We are happy to advise. Here are some of the most popular weddings hymns:

  • All things bright and beautiful
  • Amazing grace
  • At the name of Jesus
  • Colours of the day (Light up the fire)
  • Dear Lord and Father of mankind
  • For the beauty of the earth
  • Give me joy in my heart (Sing hosanna)
  • Guide me O Thou Great Redeemer
  • Immortal Invisible
  • Lead us Heavenly Father
  • Lord for the years
  • Lord of all hopefulness
  • Lord of the dance
  • Lord the light of your love is shining (Shine, Jesus, shine)
  • Love Divine all love excelling
  • Make me a channel of your peace
  • Morning has broken
  • My song is love unknown
  • Now thank we all our God
  • O Jesus I have promised
  • O Lord my God (How great thou art)
  • O Worship the King
  • Praise, my soul
  • Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
  • Tell out my soul the greatness of the Lord
  • The King of love my Shepherd is
  • The Lord's my Shepherd

For further information about planning your wedding, we recommend the official Church of England wedding planner.
You can see the words of the Marriage Service here and view the Service of Prayer and Dedication after a Civil Marriage here


Christenings at St Anne's

A new baby is a cause for celebration all around.

When a child is baptised, the parents speak on the child's behalf and make important promises about their own faith and about how they will bring up their child within the family of the church.

To prepare for that big step we have our baptism preparation evening which we invite parents to attend.

The baptism service takes place in the main Sunday morning service at St Anne's and all the family are welcome.

If you would like to talk to us about a baptism please get in touch, or if you are not quite ready to make the promises involved in a baptism, you could consider a service of Thanksgiving (see details also on this page)

Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child

In a service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child, the minister takes the child in his arms and blesses it, then we pray for the parents, and present them with a copy of the Gospel saying these words: 'read this book for it tells how you and your family can share in eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.'

The service takes place in the main Sunday morning service at St Anne's and all the family are welcome.

If you would like to talk to us about having a thanksgiving service, please get in touch.

To arrange a baptism or thanksgiving at St Anne's Church, please email the Church Office or phone us on 020 3643 2327. We look forward to hearing from you.




Organising a funeral

A funeral in church? Anyone who lives in the parish or has a connection with it may have a funeral at St Anne'sChurch. You don't need to be a regular churchgoer. Just ask your funeral director and they will make all the arrangements.

If, on the other hand, you prefer to have the funeral at a crematorium or cemetery chapel, the clergy at St Anne's will be delighted to conduct it for you. Again your funeral director can arrange this for you.

What to include?
The minister taking the service will arrange to come and visit you to talk over the service, but here are some things to think about:

A funeral in church? Anyone who lives in the parish or has a connection with it may have a funeral at St Anne's Church. You don't need to be a regular churchgoer. Just ask your funeral director and they will make all the arrangements.

If, on the other hand, you prefer to have the funeral at a crematorium or cemetery chapel, the clergy at St Anne's will be delighted to conduct it for you. Again your funeral director can arrange this for you.

What to include?
The minister taking the service will arrange to come and visit you to talk over the service, but here are some things to think about: