How we can help mark life’s big moments

life events

We will walk with you through all the ups and downs of life. When life-changing moments come along, like a birth, a marriage, or the death of someone close, we will be there for you. We’ll help you plan an appropriate and personal occasion for you, your family and your friends.

The birth of a child is a wonderful, life-changing and life-enhancing moment, which we rightly want to celebrate with our family and friends. Everyone is welcome to have their child baptised in their parish church.

Rev’d Kathryn

Christenings

Infant Baptisms

Even if you no longer live in the parish, but have a previous connection with us – maybe you were baptised here yourself – you are welcome to return to St Michael’s for your own child to be baptised. When your child is baptised, they begin an amazing journey of faith, and we’re always here to support you and your children on that journey.

Baptisms generally take place within our main 9:15 am service, or at 1 pm on Sundays. There is no charge of any sort for a baptism, whether in the 9:15 am service or later.

find out more about christenings

Christenings

Adult Baptisms & confirmation

If you weren’t baptised as a young child, you may decide that you want to make this commitment now as an adult or teenager. Whatever leads you to this point, we would love to support you in this decision.

For adults their ‘christening’ generally take the form of baptism and confirmation in the same service. Confirmation is an adult act of commitment intended for people who were baptised as children and now feel ready to say for themselves what their parents and godparents said for them.

All candidates for confirmation are invited to attend a small group for a few weeks prior to the baptism and confirmation service. These groups offer an informal, safe space to ask questions and explore the Christian faith. There’s no charge, no pressure and, if you feel it’s not right for you, you can decide not to go ahead at any time.

Find out more about what we believe

Photograph of the Bishop of Hertford with people who have been confirmed

You’re never too old to be baptised! Many people weren’t baptised as children, and sometimes they feel they would like to make that step, but worry about whether it’s possible for adults and about what’s involved. If that’s you, don’t worry, we can help!

Rev’d Kathryn

Close up photograph of two hands with wedding rings

People often worry that a wedding in church will be really expensive. The good news is that it needn’t be. We’re on your side and if you really want to marry at St Michael’s, but you’re on a tight budget, we can make it happen. Just talk to us!

Rev’d Kathryn

weddings

celebrating your marriage

More than a quarter of all marriages in England take place in the setting of a Church of England church. If you live in the parish – or have a connection with us – you are welcome to marry in St Michael’s whatever your beliefs, whether or not you are baptised and whether or not you go to church.

Why? Well, we don’t do this for the money! We welcome everyone to celebrate their love because love is at the heart of our faith. It’s always a joy for us to help you make your special day go well, and we’ll be there for you afterwards too, if you need us.

Please contact Rev’d Kathryn for an initial chat. You may also find the Church of England’s ‘Your Church Wedding’ website useful, so just click on the button below. Will it be expensive? No, it needn’t be, and if you’re on a very tight budget, we’ll help all we can to make it possible for you.

The law currently doesn’t allow us to marry same sex couples in church, but that doesn’t mean we don’t welcome and celebrate everyone in a loving and faithful relationship. See below for more information on what we can do!

learn more about a wedding in church

funerals

when someone dies

A funeral offers an important opportunity to mark a death, to express our grief, to give thanks for the life of the person who has died and to commend the person into God’s keeping. It’s about affirming life, love and hope even in our darkest moments. It really isn’t an unnecessary fuss and it doesn’t have to be expensive.

Funeral services can be tailored to reflect the life of the deceased and their wishes. Everyone in the parish – or who had a connection with St Michael’s – is entitled to hold their funeral here, regardless of whether or not they attended church.

Please contact us directly, or tell the funeral director who is arranging the funeral, if you would like the service to be held at St Michael’s or would like one of our clergy to conduct a service at the crematorium. We work closely with families and funeral directors to advise on all aspects of the service.

If you’re thinking ahead about the kind of funeral you would like, you can talk to us about your ideas and wishes at any time.

blessings

Personal & special occasions

Many people find they wish there was a way to mark some significant moment or event, but don’t know whether churches do that sort of thing. We do!

Here are some examples of how we’ve helped people before:

Blessing of a new wedding ring
A service to re-affirm marriage vows or mark a special anniversary
Blessing of a home
Blessing pets, or significant objects
Blessing a relationship
Thanksgiving services
A service to mark the adoption of a child
Prayers to mark a return to faith when someone was baptised and confirmed in the past, but then drifted away from church
Prayers when facing a difficult or challenging situation

Any of these personal occasions could be very private, or a celebration with friends and family. They could happen in your own home, or in church, or some other venue. We don’t charge anything (though we might have to ask you to pay if you wanted musicians outside normal service times, for example).

Although we can’t actually marry same-sex couples in church, our Parochial Church Council have voted unanimously to use the new Church of England resource Prayers of Love and Faith, prayers asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples. When we say we’re an inclusive church we mean it, so if this might be right for you, please get in touch and we can talk about what we can do. You can also follow the link below to learn more about the Church of England’s living in love and faith journey.

So whatever might be on your mind, we hope you’ll feel able to get in touch!