Weddings

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage! Julian of Norwich is happy to be part of your wedding. Please contact our church office at least 60 days before your proposed date. Marriage preparation courses are available through the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa:
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QWho can be married at the parish?
AOpposite-Sex and Same-Sex couples may be married at Julian of Norwich. There are, however, some requirements and conditions as set out below. We have a very busy parish and most of the marriages that take place at the parish are couples who have a family or community relationship with the parish. You must agree to be married according to the rites of the Anglican Church of Canada (this is both a church and a legal requirement). The rites of the church are set out in the Book of Alternative Services, beginning on page 526.

To see a sample service for a marriage in which one person is a Christian and the other is a person of another faith, follow this  link.

An Anglican priest must preside. It is not possible for priests, pastors, or ministers ordained in traditions other than the Anglican Church, nor for Civil Celebrants, to conduct a marriage in the church or anywhere on the church property.

You do not need to live in the parish area. Most often marriage celebrations at the church are with those who have a relationship with the church community already. If one or both partners to the marriage have been married previously, and are divorced, this will not prevent you being married in our church but it will be part of the pre-wedding conversations with the priest.

The Anglican Church of Canada requires that one party to the marriage must be baptised in the Christian tradition – the baptism may have been conducted in any recognised Christian church or denomination.

Couples must take a Marriage Preparation Course. Information can be found on the Diocesan Website.

QWhat do we do first?
APrior to the first meeting couples are invited to attend a Sunday service and introduce yourself to the parish priest. After the service, if you are still considering having your wedding at one of the parish churches, a meeting should be booked with the priest, via email at .  Apart from meeting and discussing marriage, and taking the opportunity to find out a bit about those being married in our church, another purpose of this meeting is to get copies of the application.

The Marriage Canon requires that at least six week’s notice be given to the proposed celebrant before the marriage takes place. Couples desiring to be married at the church should contact the parish office to check that the time and date desired is available. Please note that most wedding dates are discussed with the Priest first and are often determined almost a year in advance. Please do not put a deposit on a wedding reception venue for a particular date until you have confirmed with the Priest that your wedding ceremony can take place on your preferred date.

QWho will lead the service?
AThe celebrant for your wedding will normally be one of the parish clergy. Where couples have an existing relationship with another Anglican priest they may seek permission from the Rector to invite that priest to conduct their marriage; however, this would be quite rare.

Please note that an Anglican church may only be used for the purposes of Anglican worship with an Anglican priest presiding. It is not possible for the church to be “hired out” or “used” for other purposes, nor is it possible for clergy (priests, ministers or pastors) from churches other than the Anglican Church to conduct marriages at Julian of Norwich.

Ordained ministers of other Christian churches may, however, assist and participate, usually at the point of the homily (sermon) and/or prayers. Couples desiring this must contact the Priest to discuss this and to obtain approval to do so, before inviting another minister to participate.

QDo we need to do a Marriage Preparation course?
AYes, it is a mandatory requirement of marriage in our Church and the link is found above.

QCosts?
AOur fees are set by the Parish Council. The fees include: The celebrant, for the rehearsal and wedding (250.00). A professional musician (organist, and co-ordinator of the music used during the ceremony) (300.00). A donation to the church for the use of the church for the rehearsal and ceremony (300.00). This donation is a contribution to the ministry of the church. All payments must be made two weeks prior to the rehearsal.

QWhat about the Rehearsal?
AThe rehearsal normally takes place during the week prior to the wedding. Typically, the rehearsal will take about 45 minutes. The main purpose of the rehearsal is to practise the entry of the couple and their attendants into the church, and to give the bride and the groom some practical instructions about where things happen and how the service proceeds. The time and date of the rehearsal is arranged in consultation with the Priest.