Holy matrimony
(Marriage)
The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
Marriage is a natural institution, something common to all mankind. At its most basic level, marriage is a union between a man and a woman for the purpose of procreation and mutual support, or love. Each spouse in a marriage gives up some rights over his or her life in exchange for rights over the life of the other spouse.
In the Church, however, marriage is more than a natural institution; It is one of the Seven Sacraments. A marriage between two Christians, therefore, has a supernatural element as well as a natural one.
The spouses are the ministers of the sacrament of marriage because the mark – the external sign – of the sacrament is not the wedding service or anything the priest might do, but the marriage contract itself, the vows that each spouse makes to the other. As long as each spouse intends to contract a true marriage, the sacrament is performed
A service of Holy Matrimony (marriage) is arranged by contacting the parish priest.
In order to get married in the parish there will be a number of requirements that must be met. This includes:
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be a member of the Anglican Church?
No, but one person, either the bride or groom must be Baptised.
When do you have weddings?
Almost any time, but mostly on Saturdays. We prefer not to have weddings on Sundays as we often have other services and activities, please discuss with the priest. Weddings do not occur on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter Day).
What if my partner or I have been married before?
Marriages are celebrated in the Parish of Coffs Harbour for people who have been married before upon gaining the bishop's consent. You will need to provide your divorce order and also discuss with the priest,
Can we have music other than the Church Organ?
Yes, but please discuss this with the priest. We are capable of playing music from CD's, a laptop/tablet or other music player (e.g.. iPod). You must provide the copyright details of the songs you wish to use as proof of ownership, and to ensure the church is compliant with relevant legislation.
Will we be allowed to use confetti?
Paper confetti and rose petals are not allowed in the Church or Church grounds. Bubbles are allowed, please note however these can stain fabrics etc.
What does it cost?
The fee for a marriage service is $400
The sacrament itself is provided at no cost. The fee includes all meetings with the priest. There will be meetings for marriage preparation. There will be a meeting to discuss and organise the marriage liturgy itself. And, of course there will be a full rehearsal of the wedding so it all goes well.
The fee includes the use of the church. The fee includes an organist or use of church sound equipment. The fee also covers the legal registration of the marriage with the NSW Registry of Births and Marriages.
A non-refundable deposit of $100 secures your booking.
Marriage is a natural institution, something common to all mankind. At its most basic level, marriage is a union between a man and a woman for the purpose of procreation and mutual support, or love. Each spouse in a marriage gives up some rights over his or her life in exchange for rights over the life of the other spouse.
In the Church, however, marriage is more than a natural institution; It is one of the Seven Sacraments. A marriage between two Christians, therefore, has a supernatural element as well as a natural one.
The spouses are the ministers of the sacrament of marriage because the mark – the external sign – of the sacrament is not the wedding service or anything the priest might do, but the marriage contract itself, the vows that each spouse makes to the other. As long as each spouse intends to contract a true marriage, the sacrament is performed
A service of Holy Matrimony (marriage) is arranged by contacting the parish priest.
In order to get married in the parish there will be a number of requirements that must be met. This includes:
- Meeting with the parish priest on a number of occasions in the lead up to the wedding,
- Undertaking a marriage preparation course and associated meetings
- the provision of identity documents including a full original birth certificate (not an extract or copy)
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be a member of the Anglican Church?
No, but one person, either the bride or groom must be Baptised.
When do you have weddings?
Almost any time, but mostly on Saturdays. We prefer not to have weddings on Sundays as we often have other services and activities, please discuss with the priest. Weddings do not occur on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter Day).
What if my partner or I have been married before?
Marriages are celebrated in the Parish of Coffs Harbour for people who have been married before upon gaining the bishop's consent. You will need to provide your divorce order and also discuss with the priest,
Can we have music other than the Church Organ?
Yes, but please discuss this with the priest. We are capable of playing music from CD's, a laptop/tablet or other music player (e.g.. iPod). You must provide the copyright details of the songs you wish to use as proof of ownership, and to ensure the church is compliant with relevant legislation.
Will we be allowed to use confetti?
Paper confetti and rose petals are not allowed in the Church or Church grounds. Bubbles are allowed, please note however these can stain fabrics etc.
What does it cost?
The fee for a marriage service is $400
The sacrament itself is provided at no cost. The fee includes all meetings with the priest. There will be meetings for marriage preparation. There will be a meeting to discuss and organise the marriage liturgy itself. And, of course there will be a full rehearsal of the wedding so it all goes well.
The fee includes the use of the church. The fee includes an organist or use of church sound equipment. The fee also covers the legal registration of the marriage with the NSW Registry of Births and Marriages.
A non-refundable deposit of $100 secures your booking.