Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!
All three of the churches in the Parish of Huntley have been the site of many weddings.
Marriages at the Parish of Huntley are surrounded by a sense of beauty, awe, tradition, and history. The following answers most of the questions those considering being married at the Parish ask, and provides all of the details the majority of those planning a wedding need.
Please feel free to contact us with any further questions or concerns.
1. WHO CAN BE MARRIED AT THE PARISH? Anyone desiring to be married in the church may do so. 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 on in the Book of Alternative Services, beginning on page 562.
To see a sample service for a marriage in which one person is a Christian and the other is a person of another faith click HERE
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 at any of the churches in the parish or anywhere on the church property.
You do not need to live in the parish area. You do not need to be a ‘member’ of our church or of another church but this is often the case. 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 pries. 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.
2. FIRST CONTACT The Marriage Canon requires that at least one month’s notice be given to the proposed celebrant before the marriage takes place. Couples desiring to be married at the Parish of Huntley 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 note put a deposit on a wedding reception venue for a particular date until you have confirmed that your wedding ceremony can take place on that date in conversation with the Priest.
3. CELEBRANT All ordained ministers of our church (the Anglican church) undergo extensive training, and by virtue of what they do on a daily basis, develop highly professional skills in leading services, addressing gatherings of people, and in public speaking. The celebrant at the Parish of Huntley will normally be one of the parish clergy. Where couples have an existing relationship with another Anglican priest they may seek permission from the Anglican Parish of Huntley to invite that priest to conduct their marriage. This must be done in writing to the Priest. 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 the Parish of Huntley. 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. Under no circumstances may a civil celebrant preside at, nor lead, nor participate in, any part of a marriage service at the Parish of Huntley.
4. FIRST MEETING Prior 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 huntleypriest@bellnet.ca. 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.
5. MARRIAGE PREPARATION is outlined above and is a mandatory requirement of marriage in our Church.
6. FEES Our fees are set by the Parish Council. Please contact our office for a list of current fees. We ask for donation to the church for the use of the church for the rehearsal and ceremony (400.00). This donation is a contribution to the upkeep of the historic church and the gardens. All payments must be made at or prior to the rehearsal.
7. THE REHEARSAL The 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 bride and her 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 celebrant.
8. THE CEREMONY Please ensure that you have reviewed all aspects of the service (in the Book of Alternative Services). Groomsmen should arrive approximately 45 minutes prior to the service.
9. CONFETTI etc. Please ask your guests to refrain from throwing anything at the entrance of the church, as a courtesy to the church grounds. Biodegradable matter only (i.e. rose petals and potpourri) may be thrown in the church grounds on the lawn. Paper products (e.g. confetti) are not to be used, nor should rice be thrown as it becomes a trip hazard on paths when wet.
10. PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS The church has no objection to professional photographers taking photographs of the service nor to the ceremony being filmed by a videographer arranged by the couple being married. It is important that the photographer and/or videographer introduce themselves to the clergy before the service begins and heeds all instructions given by the celebrant.
For more information call the Parish Office (613-839-3195) or contact the Parish Priest at huntleyrector@bellnet.ca
Follow us on Facebook here