The churchyard is grassed, the grave stones having been removed many years ago, and provides a beautiful setting for photographs.

 

 

The bride and her father approach St. George’s Church through the yew trees of the churchyard.

 

 

Balloons, confetti and fun are positively encouraged!

 

 

The unusually wide aisle and the long chancel provide the space in which the drama of the ceremony can unfold.

 

 

The marriage service

Weddings

The Wedding Service has so many possible options that it can be either confusing for couples to choose items or tempting for the clergy to make the choices for them!

We hope that this information will help you in choosing items for inclusion in your service that you want and that help you both express what you want to say on that day to one another, to your families and friends and, above all, to God.

Jack, our organist, is always ready to discuss the music for the service and to make suggestions should you so desire.It is probably best to attend a Sunday service at St. George’s and talk to him at the keyboard afterwards.

For further information, please speak to a churchwarden or use our contact page.

If you have to attend church to qualify for the electoral roll – you will be sure to find a warm welcome.

We can provide organist, choir and bell ringers; and advice on photographers and florists.

Colour, music and the candle ceremony will hopefully make the day a memorable one for all concerned, and help us all catch a glimpse of the God who loves us more than we can begin to imagine.

Testimonial:

"We would like to send our heart felt thanks to you and church members who welcomed Mark and Emma into to your church. With extra special thanks to all those involved with their wedding on the 18th November we were overwhelmed with their support and generosity. It truly was a wonderful wedding which we will always remember. The photos are on web site www.pwponline.co.uk (Weddings, then Emma Davies & Mark Sheehy)."

_ - o O o - _

Residence and Electoral Roll Qualification

To be married in any parish church either the bride or the groom have to have a residence qualification. For most people this means that they live in the parish or their family home is here. i.e. parents, grand-parents or close family or friends live here and the couples can ’be married from that address’.

OR

One of you must be on the Church Electoral Roll. Applications received from those who ’habitually worship in the church’ are always granted. “Habitually worship” usually means coming to church at least once a month for a period of six months.

OR

Some people wishing to be married here are unable to fulfil either of the qualifications above. If this is your situation do not worry! Come and talk to the Rector who will be able to advise you how you can gain a residence qualification by staying in the parish under certain conditions.

OR

Have a civil ceremony, usually with bride, groom and a few witnesses followed by a European Wedding. Such services have the main elements of the wedding service save that there is no signing of registers as this will have already been done.

Divorced bride or groom

This is not usually a problem. We believe that God is all loving and is very much a God of second chances who wants to bless light out of darkness.

Cost

There are two sets of charges:

  1. Those set by the central church authorities as fees for the conducting of a wedding ceremony. These are set each January and ...
  2. fees set by the local church for extras such as bells, choir, heating, verger etc.

So it is hard to give a figure until we meet and discuss what you would like on your special day.

Ushers

You will need to have at least two ushers. They will be in church 60 minutes before the service starts, show people to their seats, and make sure all unused Orders of Service and other things brought in for the wedding are removed when it is over. There is a bin near the west gate to the churchyard.

Location

Pontesbury is on the A488 Shrewsbury - Bishop’s Castle road about 6 miles south of Shrewsbury, and about 4 miles from Rowton Castle - as the crow flies! - it’s a little further round the lanes.

Flowers

Please pay specific and special attention to these regulations.

There are flowers in church for Sunday worship throughout the year, except in the seasons of Advent and Lent. So any plans which you might like to make have to be integrated with the plans that our flower arrangers have.

You have three options:-

  1. To have no additional flowers to those that will already be in church for the Sunday  service. In this parish these are done to an exceptionally high standard, so it is an option worth considering.
  2. Arrange for a florist or family members to provide and display flowers in the church. They would have to arrange access with the Rector , and convenient times for working in the church.
  3. To supplement the regular church flowers with e.g. pew end bouquets ...

Whatever you decide it is very important that the Rector knows what you are planning to do, so that the necessary alterations to the flower rota, that might be needed, can be made in good time. This information  is needed 3 weeks before the wedding.

If you are planning more elaborate decorations than just flowers, please liase with the Rector. You will have to arrange to tidy up the church and remove such decorations.

Do not do anything, or use materials,  that might damage the fabric of the church, e.g. the use of pins, nails or sticky tape is FORBIDDEN.  AND please make sure your florist has this information. If you plan to have pew ends or garlands over doors please make sure your ushers remain behind and remove them after the ceremony. If you are uncertain about anything in this area please talk to the rector BEFORE you act.

Lent and Advent

These  are times of penitence and preparation for Easter & Christmas and it is traditional for there to be no flowers in church for Sunday services. However this does not mean that you cannot have flowers for your wedding, but if your wedding is on a Sunday they will need to be put in place after the Sunday Service (storage of prepared flowers can be arranged in church and the place is usually clear of people by 12 noon). If your wedding is on a Saturday, or a weekday, the ushers should take them out of the church after the ceremony. Removing them to the reception could be a good option.

Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and runs until Christmas Eve.

Lent runs from Ash Wednesday until Easter Saturday.