Weddings
For many people, a civil ceremony is too brief and impersonal, yet
they also feel out of place with a traditional church wedding service.
They may not be churchgoers, or even 'religious' in the conventional
sense, but they still feel a reverence for the vows made, and a
wish to express their faith in life, in one another and in their future
together.
How we can help
Horsham Unitarians have Ministers or lay persons authorised by the
Registrar to formalise weddings at the Church. Within the legal requirements,
the wording and Order of Service can be of your own
choosing. We can help with the selection of prose, readings, prayers
and poems for the ceremony. If you would like some musical content,
we can arrange for an organist or pianist to play for you.
Important Information
You must visit the Registrar in the district where you live between
12 months and 21 days before your wedding, as you cannot marry
without the appropriate certificate. If you live in different areas this
may mean visiting different Registrars.
The two official witnesses to a wedding must be aged 16 or over.
The person conducting your wedding at our Church must be a representative
of the Unitarian Church, either a Minister or an authorised
lay person.
What happens next
If you are interested in finding out how we can help with your wedding
please contact us on 01403 256788 or email us using the
CONTACT FORM. You will be asked a few
basic details including the date on which you would like to be married.
If the date is free, a provisional booking can be made together
with an appointment for an informal discussion. No firm booking can
be make until this meeting has taken place. Generally three meetings
will take place before the wedding. The first is an informal discussion
of the options available: at the second the plans will be finalized and
the third takes the form of a rehearsal.
You can see the Church, Church hall and gardens on any Sunday before
or after the service or by arrangement with the minister.
Our church dates back to 1721 and apart from the Parish Church, is
the oldest place of Christian worship in Horsham. The peaceful garden
was formed out of the extensive grave-yard which at one time
surrounded the church. In 1976 it was dedicated as a Garden of Remembrance,
and is open to all.
Sunday Services
If you are considering a wedding at our Church, we warmly welcome
you to attend a Sunday Service. We meet every Sunday at 10.30am
and the services last approximately one hour followed by tea and
coffee.
