In the Christian tradition, marriage is a sacrament and covenant between two persons, entered into in the presence of God and the Church, and is never a private contract. We affirm Holy Matrimony as a sign of God’s love for all of creation, incarnated in Christ’s love for the Church, the people of God. We believe that the spiritual dimension of human life is intertwined with the intellectual and physical dimensions. This belief is captured in the opening words from our liturgy for marriage …

“Christian marriage is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God.  The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God’s will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord.”  (Prayer Book, pages 422 and 423)

REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDUCE FOR MARRIAGE AT ST. THOMAS’S

• · At least one of the partners must be a baptized Christian. If a person desires to be baptized prior to their marriage, this can be discussed with the priest.

• · You will be sent an Application for Marriage form which should be returned to the Church as soon as possible.  You may discuss tentative dates and times for the wedding ceremony, but no definite plans may be made until after an initial meeting with the clergy person who will officiate.

• · Clergy in the Episcopal Church are required to instruct couples in the meaning of Christian marriage, to assess their readiness for such a relationship, and to prepare them for the wedding ceremony.  Arrangements for the counseling will be made by the priest who will perform the ceremony.

• · Divorced persons may be married at St. Thomas’s. The procedure in the Episcopal Church for remarriage after divorce is for the parish priest, after meeting with the couple and being provided with a legal copy of the divorce decree, to determine whether to commend the proposed marriage to the Bishop. If the Bishop approves, the plans for the marriage may then proceed.

• · “The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage” is the liturgy used for marriage in the Episcopal Church, and may be found in the Book of Common Prayer, pages 423-432.