St. Mary's, Great Chart

with

St. Mary's in Singleton

Services for family occasions

Special Services:

There are times in everyone's life which count as special.  At St. Mary's we believe God should be involved in those times too.

This page provides details of:

•  Baptism
•  Getting Married
•  Funerals

Baptism
Many people also call this service a Christening. Whatever you call it, at St. Mary's we believe that baptism is an important time, when the Church community has the opportunity to welcome a new member.  Often this is a time of new beginnings of all types, where families join together to thank God for a safe arrival, and make promises to bring up a child in the Christian faith to know Jesus for themselves.

We encourage parents and god-parents bringing children for baptism to consider the implications of the promises which they are going to make before God and the Church.  Promises of faithfulness and a commitment to raise children to follow the teachings of Jesus are all part of the baptism service.

Services are either held during the usual morning worship at St. Mary's on a Sunday, or a more informal and contemporary service can be held at St. Mary's in Singleton.

Parents wishing to discuss baptism are encouraged to contact the Rector - perhaps following a Sunday service at one of the churches.

Weddings
Weddings are a time for great celebration, and provide an opportunity to thank God for all of the blessings which He provides for us - not least of which is the gift of love for one another.  Beginning married life before God involves the recognition that marriage is best entered into as a partnership of three - where God is central to the decisions, actions and expectations which will inevitably happen in the years that follow.

Wedding services can generally be arranged on a suitable date in St. Mary's Church - but there is an expectation that couples will discuss the decision they are choosing to make.  Amidst all the practical arrangements, the Rector will want to ensure that couples understand the serious aspect of the vows which are to be made before God and His church.  They will be encouraged to attend services during the period when their banns are being read.

Funerals
There is an inevitable sadness to arranging a funeral for a loved one.   At St. Mary's we honestly believe that a background of 1,300 years of worship in Great Chart provides a basis for celebrating and giving thanks for the lives of those who have been a part of our community.

We try to arrange services which respect the wishes of the family, which provide an opportunity to say goodbye properly, and which give thanks to God for the blessings, love and accomplishments which so often characterise a life.  We also take the opportunity to seek God's help in facing the future without a loved one, and to help prepare ourselves for our own inevitable death one day.

Whether the background needs to be quiet and reflective, or whether it is better with music or readings, it is important that the service reflects the character of the person being commemorated.