Weddings
If you are planning your wedding – congratulations on your engagement. We are delighted that you may be considering St Mary’s for the occasion.
We love weddings and using our historic country church for joyful occasions. Be assured that we will do all we can to make your special day happen the way you would like it to, and will offer a warm welcome to your family and friends.
A wedding in the Church of England combines both Christian celebration and the requirements that ensure you are legally married under British law. You will find answers to almost any questions you may have about a church wedding on the Church of England’s website here, but a few things specific to our church follow.
Who can get married at St Mary’s Black Bourton?
Anyone living within the parish may be married at St Mary’s. Don’t worry if you live outside the parish, you can still be married here if you are a church member, or by a qualifying connection. Since 2015 special legal requirements also apply for non-EEA nationals. Being divorced is not necessarily a bar to marriage in church.
Preparing for your marriage
We believe that investing time in marriage preparation is the best gift we can offer in helping you prepare for married life beyond the wedding day itself. This will be discussed with you when you book your wedding.
Please first refer to this 2025 July – Marriage Guide for the Benefice, which includes suggestions for preparing for the ceremony. Then do please fill in this application Application for Marriage in BNCBB Benefice. Return it directly to the Team Rector, Revd Barry Hanson (rector@bncbb.org.uk) and he will contact you very soon and advise of the next steps, and arrange a meeting with you both.
Baptisms
Baptism or Christening is a great occasion for celebration as a person is welcomed into the church family. It marks the beginning of a journey of faith. Every journey is different – for some it will begin in early childhood, for others it may happen later in life. For adults Baptism is often linked with Confirmation. We welcome both children and adults in making this important public step.
Who can be baptised at St Mary’s Black Bourton?
You or your child can be baptised if you live in the parish or if you regularly attend services with us. Sometimes those who live elsewhere but have a long-term connection with the parish may wish for baptism in our church. For example, this might be if it was the church you attended as a child and your parents still live in the parish. If you have this kind of connection, please contact the Baptism Coordinator Mrs Rossie Sewell rossie.sewell@gmail.com. Do first refer to this 2025 July Baptism Guide for the Benefice. It provides all the information you should need.
When?
Baptisms normally take place within a Sunday service.
Godparents
As many as you wish, but three is the normal minimum: two female and one male for a girl, and vice versa for a boy.
What is expected of me or my child?
Baptism is one of the Church’s sacraments – a visible sign of God’s love for us. Jesus himself was baptised at the start of his ministry as the sign of a new beginning. He taught his followers to baptise others turning away from their old life as a sign of starting a new one. It marks the decision to follow Jesus Christ within the family of the Church. With Baptism your child becomes a member of the church and you are committing yourself to support him or her in growing in faith. Parents and godparents make promises that they will do this.
An alternative to Baptism
Some parents may feel that Baptism is not appropriate for them at this time. There is another way to celebrate the gift of a child without the commitment that Baptism involves. In a Service of Thanksgiving and Blessing parents and families give thanks to God for the birth or adoption of a child and everyone prays for family life. It can take place in church with family and friends gathered, or elsewhere as appropriate. A Thanksgiving Service is not a Baptism. There are no promises to make about the Christian faith. The child will be blessed, named, and prayed for, and supporting friends will promise to support the parents in bringing up their baby. We are very happy to help you plan such a special service for your child.
Cost
There is no charge for Baptism, although you are encouraged to consider making a meaningful donation towards the church’s ministry.
Funerals
The death of a loved one is always a difficult time. If you are arranging a funeral, then we offer our sympathy and assure you that we will give you the best support that we can. You may find it helpful to look at the Church of England website here where there is a great deal of useful information and advice. Also do first refer to this 2025 July – Funeral Guide for the Benefice, which has all you should need for organising a funeral in our Benefice, including service suggestions.
Anyone is able to ask a Church of England minister to take a funeral for someone they knew and loved. Neither the person who has died nor the person asking has to be a regular churchgoer to have a Church of England funeral, it is open to all. We are always willing to conduct funerals for anyone in our church who has died, or for those who have had a particular connection to our village.
The fees for funerals, burials and cremations are set by the Church of England nationally and are the same for every church. Your Funeral Director will advise you of the cost and deal with payment to the church on your behalf.