Church life
Weddings
We are delighted to hear that you have decided to get married and that you are interested in exploring the possibility of being married at St John’s; the information on this page should help give you an idea of what being married at St John’s will involve. If you wish to explore being married at St John’s further, please contact the church office.
Please note that under Scottish law no wedding can proceed without a Schedule from the Registrar of Marriages. You must visit the Registrar to arrange this at least a month before the ceremony – although the sooner you do this the better.
The Service
The service itself is the focal point of the day and there is a lot of fun to be had in making it your own. For example, you can be inventive in your choice of music and hymns, readings, poetry and prayers. You may also want to involve friends or family in reading or even performing. One of the things you will be asked to decide is whether you would like the service to be in traditional or contemporary language.
We are here to help you with all these matters and there will be plenty of opportunity to discuss your options with the member of the clergy who will take the service and with our Director of Music. Indeed, one of our clergy will expect to meet with you several times before the big day to discuss both the service and the meaning of marriage for you both.
Summary of Fees
The basic fee for getting married in the Main Church at St John’s is £2000.
For a small and simple service in the chapel only, the fee is £600.
For both of the above, there is an additional organist fee of £150.
If you are an active member of the congregation, please get in touch with the office regarding wedding fees.
Added Extras:
The church choir may be able to sing at your wedding at £50 per singer if required. The fee for the Musical Director and choir may increase if there is substantial musical input required for the wedding. With the permission of the Director of Music you may invite someone else to play the organ for the ceremony.
FAQs
Can I have a same-sex wedding at St John's?
St John’s offers the sacramental rite of marriage to all couples, regardless of sexual orientation. St John’s, infact, hosted the first same-sex church wedding in the UK.
Can I get married at St John's even if I am not a member of the congregation?
Yes. Usually, one of the participants needs to have been baptised into the Christian faith.
Do I have to be a UK citizen or Edinburgh resident to get married at St John's?
No, this is not required.
Can I have a wedding reception at St John's?
Yes, our Cornerstone Centre can stage (smaller) wedding receptions. See here.
Is it possible to have Holy Communion as part of the wedding service?
Yes, if you wish Holy Communion to be part of the service, please mention this to the clergy.
What is your policy on videos and photography?
Photographs may be taken in the church after consultation with the clergy. They may also be taken on church premises outside the church. Videos may be recorded by arrangement with the Director of Music at an extra charge which covers only the public performance of the music in the service. This fee does not cover any copyright music recorded during the service or at the reception. Please visit the PRS website for details of copyright licensing if recording your wedding.
What about music?
If you are to be married at St John’s, then the music for your wedding will be discussed with the Director of Music at least six weeks before the ceremony. This is particularly important if you would like members of our choir to be present to ensure you have the appropriate number of choir members for the musical pieces you have requested. The Director of Music will also advise on issues of copyright particularly when the ceremony is to be recorded, of which you may be required to pay for a PRS license to cover this copyright.
At what time can I get married?
The time of the service must not overlap with church services. Please see our service times here. We usually also do not offer weddings within one week ahead of major festivals, such as Easter and Christmas.
Baptism, Confirmation, Reception
Baptism
Baptism is a ceremony in which the person is washed with water, which symbolises the refreshing, life-giving and cleansing love of God as we know it through Jesus. At their baptism the candidate makes a public commitment of faith, unless they are an infant, in which case parents and godparents make this commitment for them. So, baptism can take place at any age.
If you are visiting St John’s to attend a baptism service you’ll find advice on what to expect here.
If you do not want your baby to be baptized but you would still like to mark their birth with a special ceremony we would be happy to talk with you about a Thanksgiving or Blessing which can take place either in church or at home.
Confirmation
If you have already been baptized but want to renew or make an adult statement of the promises made at your baptism, then we have a ceremony called Confirmation or Affirmation of Faith. This involves the Laying on of Hands with prayer by a bishop. We tend to have one Confirmation each year which is preceded by a course of group study over several weeks.
Reception
People who come from other Christian traditions and want mark their joining of the Scottish Episcopal Church can be formally received. This is, for instance, an option for those who have been confirmed before.
Funerals
A church community accompanies a person through every stage of their life, including sickness and death.
When a person dies we offer support to their family and help them to plan an appropriate funeral service which celebrates the person’s life, mourns their death and offers them into the loving care of God.
If you want our help in planning a funeral or our help in caring for someone who is dying, please contact us.