United Benefice of Bishop's Cannings, Etchilhampton & All Cannings

Baptism

Confirmation

Marriage

Funerals & burials

Other religious activities

Baptism

We have an open policy regarding baptism (christening):
all who live within the United Benefice boundaries are entitled to be baptised here, following a short period of instruction.

The recommended times for baptism are:
St Mary’s Church: 10.00am during either
the Family Communion Service on the 1st Sunday
or the Come & Praise Family Service on the 3rd Sunday
of each month.
All Saints’ Church: 10.00am during the Family Communion Service on the 1st Sunday of each month or 2.00pm (private service)
St Andrew’s Church: between 2.00pm and 3.00pm

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Confirmation

Confirmation services are held in Salisbury Cathedral and in the deaneries.

The next diocesan confirmation service will be in Salisbury Cathedral on 1 November 2008.

The next Devizes deanery confirmation will be on 13 June 2009.

For information about baptism or confirmation, contact Revd Sally or Revd Liz.

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Marriage

Residency

As the law stands at the present (spring 2008), to qualify to marry in any parish church at least one of the persons to be married must live in that parish or have a ‘home base’ in that parish (e.g. armed forces personnel, or university students who may live away but still regard that address as home.)

Banns

The Banns (publication of the intention to marry) are a legal requirement. The Banns must be called in the church in which the couple intend to marry (and also, if applicable, in the church of the parish of residence if one of the couple lives in another parish, in which case a certificate of banns will be required before the wedding can take place). Banns must be called within the three months immediately prior to the wedding.

Remarriage after divorce

In July 2002 the Church of England General Synod debated the issue of remarriage after divorce. The Synod

• affirmed the fundamental character of marriage as a ‘lifelong covenant’;
• accepted the regrettable fact that some marriages fail;
• asserted that there may be exceptional circumstances in which divorced people may be remarried in church;
• recognised that the decision as to whether or not to solemnize the marriage lies with the minister;
• appended advice to the clergy from the House of Bishops on how incumbents might reach a decision.

For all enquiries for marriage, including those seeking remarriage after divorce, please phone Revd Sallyanne Attwater on: 01380 860650

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Funerals & burials

Funerals

Sally, Liz and Scott offer sensitive bereavement care, visiting the bereaved and working with them to produce an appropriate service either in church or at the crematorium.

The right to burial

If the deceased was resident within the parish boundaries he or she is entitled to be buried in the appropriate churchyard. At All Cannings the churchyard is closed for burials but there is a public cemetery on the edge of All Cannings village. All three churchyards have a space set aside for the interment of cremated remains.

Headstones and memorials

The Church of England sets strict regulations concerning the size, material, design and inscriptions of headstones erected in their churchyards. The regulations may be inspected on application to the Salisbury Diocesan Registry. Phone 01722-411141.

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