Banns of Marriage

What are Banns of Marriage?

Planning your wedding is an incredibly exciting time! If you're choosing to get married in a Church of England church, like our beautiful St Mary Magdalene in Welwyn Garden City, you'll usually need to have your 'Banns of Marriage' read. This is a long-standing legal requirement, but also a wonderful tradition that involves the community in your joy.

Essentially, Banns are a public announcement of your intention to marry each other. They are traditionally read aloud during our main Sunday service here at St Mary Magdalene (Hollybush Lane, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 4JS). This serves two purposes: it allows our church family to share in your happiness, offer prayers and congratulations, and, from a legal standpoint, provides an opportunity for anyone knowing a lawful reason why you cannot marry to declare it (though this is extremely rare!).

Where and When are Banns Read?

Understanding where and when your Banns need to be read is important:

Location: The law requires Banns to be read in the parish church where each of you currently lives and in the Church of England church where your wedding ceremony will take place (if that's different).
Timing: Banns must be read aloud on three Sundays, all falling within the three months immediately preceding your wedding day. We strongly advise starting this process early within that three-month window to ensure everything is completed smoothly.

Here are the common scenarios:

Both Live Here, Marrying Here: If both of you live within the parish boundaries of St Mary Magdalene, Welwyn Garden City, and you are getting married with us, Banns only need to be read here.
One Lives Here, One Elsewhere: If one of you lives in our parish, but the other lives in a different parish, Banns must be read both here at St Mary Magdalene and in the parish church where the other person resides.
Neither Live Here, Marrying Here: If neither of you currently live in our parish but you qualify to marry at St Mary Magdalene (perhaps due to a strong family or historical connection), Banns must be read in both of your home parish churches. You will need to obtain official Banns certificates from those churches to show us before your wedding.
Living Here, Marrying Elsewhere: If you live within the St Mary Magdalene parish boundaries but are getting married in a different Church of England church, your Banns will still need to be read here. You will then need to obtain a Banns certificate from us to give to the minister conducting your wedding.

Not Sure Which Parish You Live In? Parish boundaries aren't always marked by obvious street signs! The definitive way to check is by using your postcode on the A Church Near You website. If you remain unsure, please don't hesitate to contact us, and we'll gladly help you figure it out.

How to Arrange Your Banns at St Mary Magdalene

Whether you're planning your church wedding here or simply need your Banns read because you live in our Welwyn Garden City parish, the process is straightforward.

Please get in touch with our Parish Office by emailing bookings@st-mary-magdalene.org.uk. You can find other contact methods on our Contact Us page. You will need to provide the full names, current addresses, and contact information for both the bride and groom, along with the confirmed date and location (church name and town/city) of your wedding ceremony.

We will then schedule a brief appointment for you to fill out a Banns application form. During this meeting, often with our Priest, Emma Hopegood Jones, or one of our churchwardens, we will also need to verify your identity (a current Passport or photo Driving Licence is ideal) and proof of your current address (like a recent utility bill or bank statement dated within the last 3 months) for both individuals.

We highly recommend contacting us about arranging your Banns at least four to five months before your wedding date. This allows plenty of time for the readings to take place and for any necessary certificates to be issued without any last-minute rush.

Attending the Banns Reading

We warmly encourage you to attend our 10 am Sunday service at St Mary Magdalene (Hollybush Lane, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 4JS) to hear your Banns being read! It makes the upcoming wedding feel even more real and provides a special opportunity for our church community to meet you and offer their prayers and support as you prepare for married life. Feel free to invite family and friends to join you.

Fees for Banns of Marriage

There is a statutory legal fee set by the Church of England for the reading of Banns and, if required, the issuance of a Banns certificate. This fee is standard across all parishes and is reviewed annually. Please confirm the current fee when you make your application with the Parish Office. This fee helps cover the necessary administrative time involved in this legal process.

Supporting Your Journey and Our Ministry

Arranging Banns is just one detail involved in planning your special day. Celebrating significant life events like weddings, christenings, and supporting families through funerals is a core part of our ministry at St Mary Magdalene. Our church, including the maintenance of our historic building on Hollybush Lane and our Parish Centre on Hall Grove (AL7 4PJ), relies on the generosity of our community. If you feel able to support the ongoing work and presence of your local church in Welwyn Garden City, please consider making a contribution via our Donations page.