Arranging for banns to be read in church

If you are getting married in a church in England, it is most likely that you will have to have your banns read both in the church where the marriage is to take place and also in the parish of residence of both the bride and groom.

Banns can only be read in the three-month period before the wedding. They are normally read during the main service on three consecutive Sundays, but they do not need to be read on the same Sundays in both churches. It is customary for the couple to attend at least one of the readings. At St Barnabas, banns are read during the main Sunday Eucharist, which starts at 10.30 am.

If you need to arrange for your banns to be read, please contact the vicar. You will need to fill in a short form, and a fee is payable (£34 in 2008). Once the banns have been read three times, and assuming no objections have been made, a certificate will be prepared and sent to you.