Enquiries regarding Weddings, Baptisms and other pastoral matters can be made at the church Vestry (entrance off Hatton Road) on Saturday mornings between 10:00 am and 11:00 am. Parish Office timings are unchanged on Saturdays when there is a Coffee Morning. Parish Office is usually suspended at Easter and Christmas.
Baptisms
Baptisms are currently permitted in church, with restrictions as per regular services . Baptisms usually take place on the 3rd Sunday in the month at 12 noon, except during the seasons of Lent (mostly in March) and Advent (December), when there will be none. Parents wishing to discuss the Baptism of a child should attend Parish Office.
We also offer Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child services, which may be more suitable for those who are not regular church attenders. A short leaflet is available to explain the differences.
If you are not already a regular member of our congregation, you will be asked to attend a number of services before being able to make a booking.
Marriages
Wedding and blessing bookings are taken for alternate Saturdays throughout the year except during Lent (6 weeks before Easter) and Advent (4 weeks before Christmas). A maximum of 2 weddings can occur with one at 3:00pm and another at either 2:00pm or 4:00pm.
Bookings for 2022 and 2023 are currently being taken. Please note that all bookings are provisional until full payment has been received and all administrative operations have taken place. Statutory Fees for 2021 can be downloaded from here, and for 2022 from here.
Banns are normally read during the month preceding the wedding. So, for a Wedding in July, the Banns will normally be read in June, although this can change with individual circumstances.
Funerals
Saint Mary’s Burial Ground is situated off Bedfont Road, and is maintained by volunteers from our congregation. The entrance is just to the west of that of Bedfont Lakes Country Park (where normally free car parking is available). It can be visited at any reasonable time.
Burials of Ashes can be made in the Garden of Remembrance east of the church extension. This also can be visited at any reasonable time.