The law of marriage is quite complicated, and so what follows is a brief summary of the way it works at the moment. To find out more, please contact the vicar for a friendly, informal chat without any obligation.

As the law stands at the moment, it is usually possible to be married at St. Matthew’s, or any other Church of England church if either:
· You live in the parish, or
· You are a regular worshipper in that church,
If you are not a regular worshipper why not start attending? You will be made very welcome and you will normally need to attend services for some time before becoming eligible to be married there. This isn’t a ploy by the church to increase Sunday attendance, but is a reflection of the way the law currently stands (but see below for some changes on the way). Nevertheless, the better you come to know a church, the more at home you will feel there on your wedding day, and there is no better time or place to discuss (and listen to) your music options than in the church with the organist who will be playing for your wedding. Getting to know the Church’s calendar of festivals can also save you time and money on flowers, because at certain special times of the year St. Matthew’s is full to overflowing with outstanding floral arrangements. Even in ordinary time there are usually plenty of flowers, though during Advent and Lent (the lead ups to Christmas and Easter) there will be none because these are more sombre times in the Church’s year.

If you have a special connection with the church, you can apply for a Special Licence, which may mean you are eligible to be married there, even though you don’t live in the parish and cannot attend church over a period of time. To apply or find out more contact the vicar or The Faculty Office, 1 The Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3JT Tel: 020 7222 5381

If you or your partner have been divorced, it may well still be possible to marry in church. Whilst the Church sees marriage as a lifelong commitment, it also recognises that in some cases, sadly, marriages do fail and that a remarriage in church can be appropriate. Again, please contact the vicar for a chat in the first instance, and please be reassured that you won’t be judged or criticised. An honest, open conversation will be needed, though, but everything will be discussed in confidence.
There are changes to the law of marriage on the horizon, which will change things quite considerably and will introduce a lot more flexibility into the system.

In July 2007, the General Synod (the Church of England's governing body) approved steps to widen the wedding regulations; these are expected to come into effect in the Autumn of 2008 if they successfully proceeed through the parliamentary process. The regulations are designed to make it easier for couples to get married in a church that has special meaning to them.
Provided the church is available, and you can check this with the vicar, couples can choose to get married in:
· their local parish
· the parish where they were baptised and/or confirmed
· a parish they have lived in for 6 months or more, at any time during their lives
· a parish they have attended worship in for at least 6 months
· the parish their parents lived or worshipped in (during the child's lifetime)
· the parish their parents or grandparents were married in.
The legislation is currently being prepared for parliament's Ecclesiastical Committee before its passage through both Houses of Parliament. After that, if it passes, it will receive Royal Assent.
However at the moment, if you want to get married in a church that is not your parish church you will need to talk to the minister there.

If there is a good reason, couples can apply for a Special Licence. To apply or find out more contact The Faculty Office, 1 The Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3JT Tel: 020 7222 5381