Baptism
Baptism, sometimes known as Christening, celebrates a new beginning of Christian life, whether for a baby, child or adult. Each individual’s journey to faith is different and this service marks a new step in that journey where we become full members of God’s church.
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Baptisms usually take place during our Sunday morning Parish Eucharist service. There are no fees for Christenings – God’s love is free. However, if you felt able to make a donation to help the ministry of the Church, we would be most grateful.
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If you live in the Parish or have connections to the Church here, we would be delighted to have a Baptism service for your child.
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To find out more please contact the vicar or the Parish Office
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Confirmation
Confirmation is a special church service in which a person confirms the promises that were made when they were baptized. If you were baptized when you were a child, your parents and godparents made these promises on your behalf.
As a young person or adult, you may be ready to affirm these promises for yourself and commit your life to following Jesus Christ.
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At a confirmation service, led by a Bishop, you make these promises for yourself. Your friends and family as well as the local Christian community will be there to promise to support and pray for you.
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To find out more about confirmation please contact the vicar.
Weddings
Whether you are looking for a small and intimate ceremony or wanting to experience the grandeur of our Nave, we can help you plan your wedding in this beautiful, prayerful and historic space.
We’ll help you plan your special service and we’ll pray for you as you take this exciting step in your journey together.
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If one or both of you live within the parish then you may legally marry at St Paul's. If this is not the case, then it may still be possible to get married here if you can demonstrate a qualifying connection.​​​
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To find out more, please contact the Church Office. There are also links below to our current marriage leaflet and to the Church of England's weddings website.​​​
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Blessings and Anniversaries
It is always a joy to celebrate significant wedding anniversaries with a service of Renewal of Vows. These can be small, intimate services or large gatherings of friends and family with hymns and readings. Do get in touch if you would like to give thanks for your marriage in this way.
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For couples who have a civil wedding, we offer a service of 'Prayer and Dedication after a Civil Marriage' also known as a 'Wedding Blessing'. The words of the service acknowledge the commitment you have already made and ask for God’s blessing and guidance in your new life together.​
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Photo: Two D Photography www.two-d.co.uk
Funerals
The loss of a loved one can be very painful. As a church we are well aware of this and the clergy are available to give their time to listen and to be with those who are bereaved.
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A funeral service is an important way of marking the end of a human life on earth, in which we give thanks to God for the person who has died, commend them to God's love and safe keeping and pray for those who mourn.
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The Clergy at St Paul's can take funerals in church or in a crematorium chapel. Every person has the right to a funeral in their Parish Church and you can also hold a funeral in Church if you have a connection to St Paul's.
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There is a very clear framework for Church of England funerals, but there is also flexibility and the opportunity for the family to choose readings, hymns and prayers, so as to ensure that the person who has died is remembered appropriately.
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If the person who has died was a regular communicant, it is sometimes appropriate to celebrate a Funeral Mass or Holy Communion service, which helps us to focus on Jesus' death and resurrection for us and affirms our unity with all who have died in Christ.
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Although St Paul's Churchyard is closed for burials, the Garden of Remembrance within the churchyard is available for the interment of ashes. As this has been designed specifically as a natural grassy area, we regret that it is not possible to introduce stone or other memorials within it.
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To discuss funeral arrangements, please contact the vicar, or speak to a funeral director who will be able to make arrangements with St Paul's