The Parish of Abbots Langley

In response to the demand for church weddings there are now more churches to choose from - thanks to a change in the law in 2008.

As well as its welcoming vicars and churches, the Church of England cares for wedding couples through its website http://www.yourchurchwedding.org - which contains the helpful guide 'Seven Steps to a Heavenly Wedding', and an online ceremony planner.

The Church of England thoroughly believes in marriage.  Whenever and wherever you choose to get married - we're here for you.

At a Church wedding bride and bridegroom make their promises to each other, receive God's blessing and offer their future together to God's love and support.

If you would like to choose St Lawrence as your wedding venue and either of you lives in the parish or is on the Electoral Roll (the Church's membership list) you are legally entitled to be married here.  Or if you have a strong family connection with the church or parish, you also qualify to marry here - those connections are:

i)  one of you was baptised or prepared for confirmation in the parish;

ii)  one of you has ever lived in the parish for six months or more;

iii)  one of you has at any time regularly attended public worship in the parish for six months or more;

iv)  one of your parents has lived in the parish for six months or more in your life time;

v)  one of your parents has regularly attended public worship here for six months or more in your lifetime;

vi)  your parents or grandparents were married in the parish.

Otherwise, people usually choose to be married at the church where they worship regularly, so come to St Lawrence and join us in worship here, before you decide if this is the place where you wish to make your vows before God.  To qualify for the Electoral Roll, you need to sign a declaration to say you are baptised and you have attended worship regularly here for at least six months.

If you wish to be married at the Church of the Ascension in Bedmond, you will have to apply for an Archbishop's License as the building is not licensed for weddings; this is done after you have met the vicar for the first time to talk it through.

Once a wedding has been booked, the vicar will discuss your plans for the day and help you to decide what music, readings and other arrangements will make the occasion as unique and special a start to your future together as you want it to be.  The Church Office is also able to help with practical questions and advice before the day.  As mentioned above, there is also the Church of England website which will help you with your planning

www.yourchurchwedding.org

If one or other of you has been married before and is now divorced, please say so when you phone to make initial enquiries - you may still be able to be married here but the vicar will want to talk it through with you.  Or an alternative way forward maybe a marriage in a registry office followed by a service of blessing in St Lawrence.  If either of you is widowed that does not cause any problems.

For an indication as to the availability of dates for weddings for the rest of this year and for 2012 & 2013 please see below.

And if you want to start the ball rolling please phone or e-mail the Church Office.

Banns of Marriage

If you live in the Parish of Abbots Langley but are marrying in another parish you will need to have your Banns of Marriage called here.  This can easily be arranged by contacting the Church Office either by e-mail or by phone - see contacts page - or by popping in during Office hours.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  (1 Corinthians 13.4-7)

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Monday 14th May - St Matthias

9.30 am  Holy Communion

11.00 am  Handbell ringing practice

2.15 pm  Tiny Tots

2.40 pm  Funeral of Daphne Sutherland at the Crematorium

7.30 pm  Bell ringing practice

8.00 pm  Housegroup at 38 Oak Green

8.00 pm  Hall Committee meeting at 20 Parnell Close

Tuesday 15th May

10.15 am-12.15 pm  Tuesday Coffee in St Lawrence

6.45 pm  Choir practice

7.45 pm  Dynamite Youth Group meets in the church hall

8.00 pm  Housegroup at 18 St Lawrence Close

Wednesday 16th May

10.15 am  Holy Communion

5.00 pm  Blessing of Ginders' new Chapel of Rest

8.00 pm  Parochial Church Council meets in the Vicarage

8.00 pm  Mothers' Union meets at Bedmond Church

Thursday 17th May - Ascension Day

8.15-8.45 am  Prayers for the Parish and Local Community

8.00 pm  Parish Communion at Bedmond.  Preacher:  The Revd Angela Tilby, Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

8.00 pm  Parents' housegroup

Friday 18th May

9.30 am  Morning Prayer with Holy Communion

10.00-12.00 noon  Heart for Abbots Langley Coffee in the Henderson Hall

6.15 pm  Youth Choir practice

Saturday 19th May

12.00 noon  Wedding of Christopher Strand and Joanne Eldridge

Sunday 20th May - The Seventh Sunday of Easter

8.00 am  Holy Communion

9.30 am  Parish Communion with Seekers & Creche

11.00 pm  Family Service at Bedmond

12.30 pm  Sunday Lunch Club

6.30 pm  Evening Prayer