Church weddings promoted at Newark Show

Couples attending Newark Show will be able to find out more about getting married in church by visiting the Church of England's stand at the event. this weekend ( May 10th & 11th 2008).

Around 54,000 couples chose to get married in a Church of England church each year. In the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham there were more than 1,000 weddings in 2006, but research has shown many couples are uncertain about whether they are allowed to marry in a church.

A survey conducted in 2006 for the Church of England showed that 53% believe church is the ‘proper’ place for a wedding. The marriage measure approved by the Church of England’s General Synod is expected to become law later this year and will make it easier for couples to marry in a church where they have a family or other special connection.

Diocesan Chief Executive, Nigel Spraggins said: “We want to do all we can to encourage couples to marry in church. Our churches offers a first class service. We’re looking forward to making it much simpler for people to be married in church in the future and hope we’ll see a rise in church weddings locally and nationally.”

The Bishop of Sherwood, the Rt Revd Tony Porter, who will be saying a prayer of blessing at the show's Grand Parade of animals on Sunday afternoon, said: "Everyone will be given a warm welcome at our stand, where we will have a special wedding display, with information about getting married in church. I’m also very grateful to have this opportunity to support our farming communities at this occasion, who have been struggling to survive following the latest blight of blue tongue disease."

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