weddings

St. James is a lovely venue for wedding celebrations. Our beautiful historic church can hold up to 200 people, and our biblical garden is a beautiful space for wedding photographs.
The first step to planning your wedding is to come to church on a Sunday and meet the Rector. We recommend you do this before you book your reception, so that you are not disappointed if your chosen date and time is not available.
Holy Matrimony is a Sacrament of the Church, and therefore the Episcopal Church requires a couple of things:
The first step to planning your wedding is to come to church on a Sunday and meet the Rector. We recommend you do this before you book your reception, so that you are not disappointed if your chosen date and time is not available.
Holy Matrimony is a Sacrament of the Church, and therefore the Episcopal Church requires a couple of things:
- That one or other person to be married must be a baptized Christian and a member of the church where they wish to be married; and
- Couples planning to be married at St. James must take pre-marital counseling. This may be done with the Rector (pastor of the parish), or with an approved marriage counselor.
- The Rector normally officiates at weddings, but the couple may have another person in mind whom they would like to marry them, subject to the Rector's approval.
- The order of service is prescribed in The Book of Common Prayer, and although it allows for some creativity, it doesn't permit the couple writing their own vows or altering the words or meaning of the service as printed.
- Other clergy may be invited to assist, with the permission of the Rector.
- Weddings may be celebrated on weekdays (Monday - Saturday), but only under special circumstances on Sundays or during the penitential season of Lent (between Ash Wednesday and Easter).
- There is a schedule of fees for use of the church, for the organist (if engaged), the altar guild (who set up the church for the service), the officiating priest. The office administrator can provide you with that. (Fees for church, parish hall and Rector are waived for active parishioners.