Are you planning to get married at St Mary's?

We'd be more than happy to discuss your wedding plans with you and we hope we can help with your preparations. We're passionate about marriage and want help you to invest in your marriages to give them the very best chance of lasting a lifetime. For that reason, even if you're marrying in a special church that's not where you live, as your local church we'd still love to support you as you prepare for your wedding:

The Marriage Preparation Course

Led by James & Emma Kennedy, The Marriage Preparation Course is a one-day course, designed to help couples who are considering marriage and wishing to build a strong and lasting relationship.  

During the day we cover five sessions covering everything from communication to resolving conflict. You are given a chance to discuss each topic with your partner and nothing is shared with the group. Coffee, cake & lunch is provided.

Here's what previous attendees have said about the course:

“I wasn’t sure what to expect, but we were made to feel very at ease from the start and it got me thinking about the little things that matter”

“It went beyond my expectations, this will hopefully help us for the rest of our lives”

“It made us think about issues that we hadn’t talked about”

“A really (unexpectedly) enjoyable day, forcing us to focus on a broad range of issues - much more useful, and less awkward than I expected!”

“Really relaxed and it has refocussed us on what’s important and a common goal"

Find out more

There is a voluntary donation of £20 per couple to help cover course costs.

Please email Emma Kennedy to for more information and to find out when the next course will take place.

Got other questions?

If you're wondering if you can be married in one of our churches, in the first instance, please direct any enquiries well in advance to the Church Office so that we can explore the options open to you.

Also do have a look below for some general guidance.

If you live anywhere in the Chipping Norton Benefice...

...you have the right to be married in your parish church (but unfortunately only in a church within your parish) as long as neither of you has a former spouse still living. If one of you has been divorced and the previous spouse is still alive, a church marriage may still be possible but you will need to meet with a member of Church staff to discuss this further. Please click here to download guidance as to the approach that we take at St Mary's towards re-marriage.   

If you live elsewhere...

...you might still be able to get married at St. Mary’s (or at other churches in the Benefice) if you have one of these qualifying legal connections:-

that one of you: 

• has at any time lived in that parish for a period of at least 6 months
• was baptised in that parish
• was prepared for confirmation in that parish
• has at any time regularly gone to normal church services in that parish for a period of at least 6 months

Or that one of your parents at any time after you were born: 

• has lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months or 
• has regularly gone to normal church services in the parish for a period of at least 6 months 

Or that one of your parents or grandparents was married in the parish.

If you have any other questions, please email office@stmaryscnorton.