Marriage Preparation
All couples wishing to marry in a Catholic church have to complete a Marriage Preparation course in advance of their wedding date.
At St Gregory’s we are currently delivering the marriage preparation programme online via zoom. The programme is based on the Alpha Pre-Marriage Course which covers 5 practical topics : communication, conflict, commitment, connection and adventure. The programme is delivered over two Saturdays (or other days by arrangement) and consists of video material, private conversational exercises between each engaged couple, and the hosts delivering personal examples. The course is entirely confidential and the couples are not required to share personal information with anyone else in attendance on the course.
Course dates for 2025 will be 18 January & 8 February
Next Steps
After you have agreed a date for your wedding with the Parish priest Fr Alex Austin, please contact the course co-ordinator:
Lisa Dunkley Tel : 07854784030 Email : lotty3@icloud.com
To discuss your marriage details and make all the necessary arrangements please contact Fr Alex or the parish office:
email : stgregorytg.stratforduponavon@rcaob.org.uk telephone : 01789 292439
Baptism
At least one of you must be a baptised Catholic. The priest will need you to have your certificates of Baptism. For Catholics a copy will need to be taken from the register of the church where you were baptised. This needs to be available six months prior to the date of the wedding. If one of you has not been baptised in a Christian Church a dispensation from the Archdiocese will be necessary.
Freedom to Marry
You cannot be married in a Catholic church if either of you you has been married before, unless the marriage has been annulled by an ecclesiastical tribunal. This rule includes marriages that have taken place in register offices or in non-catholic churches. (For a Catholic married in a non-catholic service a declaration of nullity may be possible).