If you are getting married in a church in England, it is most likely that you will need to have your banns read, not only in the church where the marriage is to take place, but also in the parish(es) of residence of both the bride and groom.
Banns can be read only within the three-month period before the wedding. They are normally read during the main service on three consecutive Sundays, but they do not need to be read on consecutive Sundays or on the same Sundays in each church involved. It is customary for the couple to attend at least one of the readings. At St Barnabas, banns are read during the main Sunday Eucharist, which normally starts at 10.30 am. During the Covid-19 pandemic, however, please consult our Event calendar for upcoming service times.
If you need to arrange for your banns to be read, please contact the vicar, Revd Ian Tattum, at iantattum@gmail.com. Ian will meet with you and help you complete the necessary paperwork. You will need to fill in a short form, and a fee (£40.00) is payable on the day. Payment may be made by cash, cheque, or online transfer.
Once the banns have been read three times, and assuming no objections have been made, a certificate will be prepared and sent to you.
To read more about this ancient tradition, visit the dedicated information page at the Church of England’s official website by clicking here.
