Norfolk churches prepare for Royal wedding

Wroxham Road Methodist Church in Norwich is planning an open community event while screening the Royal wedding on Friday April 29, in conjunction with local Sprowston schools. Doors open at 9.30am and two screenings are planned - one for those wishing to view with their family in a casual setting with play-area etc, and a second for those wishing to sit and view quietly. Bacon or sausage baps , a bring-and-share tea party and some games are planned and guests are welcome in fancy dress. As a family event it will be no alcohol and entrance is free. Contact Rev Nigel Fox 01603 426657.

 

Howard Junior School in Gaywood is staging its own ‘royal wedding’ in St Faith’s Church, Gaywood on Thursday April 28 at 10.30am. A rehearsal will be held the week before and on the day the pupils will play all the lead roles, and dress up in their smartest clothes for the big event. Following the ‘wedding’ there will be a ‘reception’ in the school hall which will have an old time, traditional feel with Big Band music, bunting, tea and sandwiches and Victoria sponge. Contact Rev Dale Gingrich 01553 765167.

 

Scole Church of England Primary School will also be staging a ‘royal wedding’ on Thursday April 28 at St Andrew’s, Scole. The Revd Trevor Reiss will preside over the event at which two pupils from Year 6 will ‘get married’ and there will be a Reception to follow, complete with Best Man’s speech. Contact: Head Teacher Mark Carlyle 01379 740674.

 

St Peter’s Church of England Primary School, Easton will also be holding a ‘royal wedding’ at St Peter’s, Easton on Thursday April 28. Contact Rev Darleen Plattin 01603 880192)

 

St Nicholas, Ashill, SS Peter and Paul, Carbrooke, St John’s, Ovington and St George’s, Saham Toney, will all be open on Thursday April 28 for visitors to sign a special book of congratulations. There will be 15 minutes of prayers for the couple at each church in turn during the day, and on Saturday 30 April there will be Fete with a Royal Wedding theme in the Rectory garden at Ashill. (Contact Rev Jane Atkins 01760 441191).

 

The church bells of SS Andrew and Mary, Horsham St Faith, will ring out at 2.30pm on Friday April 29 to mark the beginning of a royal wedding fun run. Participants will start at the church and run to the pub, dressed in wedding outfits. The local funeral director will lead the race, in the car once used by the late Queen Mother. The event will conclude with a ‘wedding breakfast’ in the Community Centre. (Contact Rev Andrew Beane 01603 898258)

 

An anxious couple telephoned the Revd Paul Seabrook to see if their wedding, booked last November for Friday April 29 could still go ahead at St Edmund’s, Taverham. It will – and the couple, Adam Knights and Jacqueline Baird, will make their marriage vows on the same day as the Royal couple.

 

Holy Cross Church, Caston is organizing a celebration meal on Saturday April 30 at 7.30pm at Caston Village Hall, complete with three-course meal, wedding cake and wedding presents. Guests are asked to wear cravats and wedding hats. (Contact: Churchwarden Bridget Hall 01953 483751)

 

St Edmund’s, Hunstanton is continuing the celebrations on Sunday May 1 at 3pm  with an afternoon service on the church lawn with wedding hymns, readings and music followed by afternoon tea. (Contact Rev John Bloomfield 01485 532531)

 

Special prayers for the Royal Wedding have been written for the Church of England, the texts for which can be found by clicking here.

And the Church of England website for weddings – www.yourchurchwedding.org – is seeing 50,000 unique visitor hits a month (compared to 33,000/month in 2010) as more couples look to get married in church. The website gives an introduction to getting married in church, together with resources for music and readings and answers to frequently asked questions about marrying in church.