Church Fees A. Paperwork fees 1. Diocesan fee: A single charge of £30 is levied by the diocesan chancery should it be necessary for it to deal with any marriage papers – for example, the granting of dispensations, or forwarding papers to another diocese. (Payment will be requested when the papers are to be first forwarded to the chancery, and should be made by cheque payable to ‘WRCDT’) 2. Parish fee: The parish levies a standard charge of £50 to cover the costs of costs related to the preparation of marriage papers. (Payment should be made by cheque payable to ‘Our Lady’s Church’). (This fee is waived when the wedding takes place in the parish) All paperwork fees are due at completion of paperwork B. Marriage Service fees 1. For practicing, registered parishioners marrying in the Church of Our Lady • • Fee for the Authorised Person. The Authorised Person is required to witness the wedding on behalf of the Local Authority/Civil Registrar, and prepares your Marriage Certificate. The statutory fee for this service is £40. Donation to the Parish. This donation is your gift to the parish for the service of the priest and the use of the church. We suggest an offering to the Church of around 5% of the total wedding cost, payable to “Church of Our Lady”, but appreciate that circumstances differ and that some will not be able to offer so much and others will wish to give more. If you are a UK tax-payer, you are invited to gift-aid your donation (an envelope can be provided or you can use the form at www.rcsjw.org.uk/parishlife/Finance/ giftaid-form.pdf ). 2. For others who wish to marry in the Church of Our Lady • Fee for the Authorised Person. The Authorised Person is required to witness the wedding on behalf of the Local Authority/Civil Registrar, and prepares your Marriage Certificate. The statutory fee for this service is £40. • Donation to the Parish. This donation is your gift to the parish for the service of the priest and the use of the church. We suggest an offering to the Church of around 10% of the total wedding cost, payable to “Church of Our Lady”. If you are a UK tax-payer, you are invited to gift-aid your donation (an envelope will be provided). All marriage service fees must be paid in advance of the wedding rehearsal Information for those preparing to marry in the Catholic Church has been produced for use in the parish of St John’s Wood. © 2007, rev 2013. For other resources see our website: www.rcsjw.org.uk. The parish is part of Westminster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust: Registered Charity No. 233699 Information for those preparing to marry in the Catholic Church Introduction In preparing for marriage there are many things to attend to. The most important is continuing to find time for each other, and for helping one another to prepare for the new way of life you are both committing to. But there are other things to be done too. And one of these is making sure you have got all the paperwork right. In many cases the procedure is very simple and straightforward. Sometimes things can be more complicated. Help is always available from one of the priests of the parish, should you need it. To prepare for a wedding in a Catholic church, in England and Wales, you will need to deal with 1. The Church: to obtain permission for your marriage to be celebrated in a Catholic church 2. The Civic authorities: to give them notice of your intention to marry, so that you can be issued with a certificate authorising your marriage. Paperwork Preparation of papers The person responsible for the compiling of marriage papers is the priest of the parish where the Catholic party or both of the parties are resident. If the marriage is to take place outside that parish, the parish priest will send the completed papers to the diocesan chancery for them to complete them and forward them to the church where the marriage is to take place. A. Church Papers (NB In all cases original documents are required, photocopies are NOT acceptable.) Proof of baptism All Catholic parties are required to obtain a new baptism certificate from the church where they were baptised. This must be dated within six months of the date of the proposed wedding. This certificate will give evidence of baptism, but if fully annotated will also give details of Confirmation and of any notes regarding marriage within the Catholic Church. When writing to the church (which is generally preferable to ringing or just turning up) please give your full name, and date of birth and date of baptism. It is courteous to enclose a stamped, addressed envelope. If you cannot confirm the exact date of baptism please indicate the date of baptism as closely as possible. Non-Catholics who are baptised can use either their original baptism certificate or a newly issued copy from their church of baptism. Proof of Confirmation Catholic parties who have been confirmed should provide a certificate of Confirmation. As noted, details of Confirmation will generally be included on the new certificate of Baptism. If they are not, then application should be made in writing to the church of Confirmation, giving the approximate date of Confirmation. Again, it is courteous to enclose a stamped, addressed envelope. Letters of Freedom Both parties need to provide written evidence of their freedom to marry. The Diocese requires this to be done by means of a Statutory Declaration of Freedom. Blank Statutory Declarations can be downloaded from http://www.rcsjw.org.uk/pastoralcare/marriage.html and should be signed before a Commissioner of Oaths, or Solicitor. Certificate of completion of Marriage Preparation course Your wedding should be the culmination of much prayer and reflection. A certificate must be provided to confirm that the couple has attended a recognised Marriage Preparation course. Fr Allen can advise as to the forms of marriage preparation presently available: details can also be found at www.rcsjw.org.uk/pastoralcare/index-pastoralcare.html Additional paperwork Additional paperwork is required, for example, for a marriage between a Catholic and another Christian or a non-baptised person; when a Catholic seeks to marry in a nonCatholic church; when either party has been previously married or has entered into a Civil Partnership; if the marriage is to take place in a parish where neither party is resident. Should any of these circumstances apply to you, the priest advising you will confirm what additional paperwork needs to be prepared. • Those marrying in France please note that, French dioceses you must provide a copy of your passport, birth certificate (an up-to-date copy for each French National) and a Declaration of Intention from each of you (in French stating your love and commitment to each another: please get guidance from your priest in France on appropriate wording for this declaration.) • Those marrying in Hong Kong must provide a copy of your birth certificates. • Those marrying in Spain must provide a copy of your birth certificate and your passport. B. Paperwork to meet Civic requirements These notes are offered for guidance only. Check all details at www.direct.gov.uk or your local Register Office. Notice of marriage Each couple must obtain the necessary ‘notice of marriage’. The ‘notice’ replaces the former ‘marriage licence’. It is valid for 12 months. A ‘notice of marriage’ is a legal document required by the Marriage Act 1949 - without it the marriage may not proceed. Where to give notice Both parties must attend their local register office to give notice of their intention to marry. No one else can do it on their behalf. The local register office for Weddings taking place here is the Register Office, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria St, London SW1E 6QP. To give notice of weddings taking place elsewhere in the UK go to the Registration Office at 317 Harrow Road, London W9 3RJ. Residency requirements If you are subject to immigration control, you will need to produce documentary evidence to the superintendent registrar to confirm that you satisfy the eligibility requirements. For more information please see the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website. Documentation required You need to show the superintendent registrar documentary evidence of: your name; your age; and your nationality (ideally in the form of your passport). You will also be asked to provide evidence of your address and evidence of the ending of any previous marriage or civil partnership. Other information (for those marrying at Our Lady’s) Music: Please note that only sacred music can be used at weddings in our church. Assistance can be provided by the parish priest in locating a musician/singer. Flowers: You are at liberty to use your own florist or to request assistance from our parish flower-arrangers. Please discuss with the parish priest what decoration of the church is permitted. Photographs: You can employ any photographer you wish but they will be allowed only at designated places in the church, and are not permitted to move around the church during the service, or photograph the congregation (during the service). The use of video cameras is permitted under the same conditions. No additional lighting rigs, or use of flash, is permitted. Preparation of Wedding Service: Guidance will be provided by the parish priest, so that the service is prepared personally for you. The approved selection of Readings, and an outline of the Order of service for both the Nuptial Mass and the Wedding Service can be downloaded from our parish website.