who can get married at Pip n Jim's

You may have heard that the rules have changed recently to enable all couples to have more choice in where they get married and which church they choose to get married in.   If you want to get married at Pip n Jims and you live within the parish boundaries, then it's very easy and you qualify to get married in our church on the basis of where you live. However, we know that you might like to get married at Pip n Jim's even though you don't live in the parish. It may have special significance for you through family or other special connections. If either of you can show just one of the following seven connections with the parish, then you are also eligible to get married at Pip n Jim's. If one of you was: was baptised at Pip n Jim's or was prepared for confirmation at Pip n Jim's or has at any time lived in the parish of Pip n Jim's for a period of at least 6 months or has at any time regularly gone to normal church services at Pip n Jim's for a period of at least 6 months or that one of your parents, at any time after you were born: has lived in the parish of Pip n Jim's for a period of at least 6 months or has regularly gone to normal church services at Pip n Jim's for a period of at least 6 months or That one of your parents or grandparents: was married at Pip n Jim's Even if you can't demonstrate any one of those seven connections and you don't live in the parish, then do not despair just yet. It still may be possible for you to marry in the church you want to get married in by applying for a special or common licence. Contact us and talk to the Vicar or the Curate well in advance to discuss the options open to you. special and common licences If you want to get married at Pip n Jim's, but cannot satisfy any of the 'qualifying connections' to a church that are set out above, you will probably need to apply for a Special Licence. If you genuinely feel you have a connection with Pip n Jim's, we should be able to help you in applying for a Special Licence. There is a fee for such a licence of around £140. It's also worth being aware that while we want to help you find a way to marry at Pip n Jim's, Special Licences are not automatically granted. Be sure to plan well in advance, up to 18 months, of your wedding to expand your options. If your marriage is taking place too soon for Banns to be read, or one of the people marrying is a foreign national, then a Common Licence application may be appropriate for you. It is granted in the name of the Bishop of Rochester as Pip n Jim's is in his diocese, and he has discretion whether or not to grant it. In order to obtain such a Licence, one of you must have had his or her usual residence within the parish of Pip n Jim's, during fifteen days immediately preceding the application, or must have had his or her usual place of worship at the church. Common Licences can only be granted for marriage to take place within the Diocese, and are only valid for three months. Again, there is a special fee for a Common Licence which is approximately £70.