Weddings, Baptisms & Funerals
Thinking of marrying at St Mary’s?
We will be delighted to welcome you to our beautiful church and to discuss with you the possibilities of accommodating your wedding. When planning a church wedding there are certain criteria that need to be met, i.e. do you live in West Horsley? It may be that you have moved away but still have family in Horsley, or there may be historical family connections with St Mary’s. In the first instance please call our Parish Office who will be able to provide more information and will suggest that you attend one of our Sunday services where you will have an opportunity to make initial contact with our Rector. Following this initial meeting and subject to his agreeing to your wedding at St Mary’s, we will send you our Wedding Pack, which is full of useful information to help you in planning your special day. Further meetings with the Rector will follow as he helps prepare you for married life together.
Baptism
If you live in the parish of West Horsley you are able to have your child baptised at St Mary’s. Generally, baptisms are carried out at our 9am service although other times can be considered to accommodate any special circumstances. In the first instance you should contact our parish office who will take all your details and deal with any initial questions you may have. They will then refer you to our baptism liaison person who will arrange to meet with you to discuss in greater depth what baptism involves, explain the services we offer and work out the best way to mark this special occasion for you and your family.
You will be invited to attend one of our baptism preparation courses which are held over 2 evenings making it easier for couples to attend together. Once a date for the baptism has been agreed, you will be asked to complete a baptism application form which will provide us with all the necessary information including details of the Godparents.
On the baptism day, both you and the Godparents will be given baptism certificates.
Funerals
A funeral marks the close of a human life on earth. It is the opportunity for family and friends to mourn, to give thanks for the life which has now completed its journey in this world, to commend the person into God’s keeping and to receive His comfort.
We recognise that bereavement is a deeply distressing and personal experience. Our priority is to support you with care, dignity and compassion, while arranging the funeral in a sensitive and efficient manner.
Our dedicated bereavement team is available to provide guidance, practical assistance and emotional support throughout this difficult time. In addition, we offer access to The Bereavement Journey, a structured and supportive course designed to help individuals better understand grief, explore their feelings and connect with others who have experienced a similar loss. Many people find comfort in sharing experiences and learning coping strategies in a safe and understanding environment.
If we are not hosting a course at the time you require support, we will gladly help you find a Bereavement Journey course or a similar group within your local area, ensuring you are able to access appropriate support when you need it most.
If you would like a funeral to be held at St Mary’s, then please contact the Church Office.
We also recommend the Church of England website, which provides helpful information on funeral preparation as well as links to bereavement support:
churchofenglandfuneral