How Much?

[4getmenot]

I didn't want to venture into religious section through fear of getting brainwashed and pulled into a cult. I'd just like to know I know you have to pay church for a wedding but do you have to for a christening?

[dot.hawkes]

Not as a fee to the Church no, that would be like charging for membership I guess. You may have to pay for the party afterwards, the cake, your outfit, the Christening robes and Christening gifts , both to and from trhe Godparents.

The parent or parents usually have to attend pre-ceremony classes, that often take place after Morning Service or one evening in the week.

[4getmenot]

thats what I thought so why so many hundreds to get married

[PatriciaH]

Usually people give a donation to the church , i dont think its a set fee

[4getmenot]

is for weddings in our church, you get an invoice

[dot.hawkes]

Because a wedding is actually a SERVICE the Church offer, like selling something, whereas, the Christening is a ceremony to bring members into their fold, which a wedding is not,.

Historically, a wedding took place in the Brides Parish, and often this meant a groom was from another parish, and that meant that members of one Parish, who paid Curch Rates in that parish, were then crossing Parish Boundaries and using the services of another Parish, for which they hadn't paid in any coffers, therefore someone had to pay, and as the Bride's family had sanctioned the marriage, they had to foot the bill.

Over the years this has now excalated and the cost is more for the Wedding Breakfast, but the Church fees have to cover the ceremony taking place outside of the set services the Church hold, plus, weddings were not allowed on a Sunday anyway, and so the Church had to provide the facilities as a special opening time.

[spaced]

Our church wedding cost us �420, just to have the ceremony there. This covers the cost of the bell ringers, priests, heating etc etc etc

And yes we got an invoice to. Initially we were given a list, which included a video person, flowers etc

[DONNNAKEBAB]

If the christening is done within a normal sunday service you dont have to pay. I gave a �75.00 donation when my daughter was christened and I invted the priest to the sit down meal afterwards. I had a sit down meal because it was the first Mothering Sunday after my daughter was born too.

Kaite. x

[RevFunk]

What is the point of a christening?
lol

[dot.hawkes]

Well I think from the parents point of view they have two choices, baptise the child into their own faith or wait until the child is old enough to make a decision.

Historicly, the parents had to baptise their baby quickly to establish it's right of settlement and to ensure they were able to claim Parish relief for the child if necessary.

I do think that it is important even in modern times, as many many official forms ask for a person's religion anmd also for some schools it is required/desired.

In fact even in modern times, marriage or burial on certain Churches is not permitted unless you are baptised/confirmed, and you cannot be confirmed without you have been baptised.

It is particularly important to some families that their child is given the religious start in life.

[4getmenot]

whats the point of a wedding :-)

[spaced]

so the sex stops

[4getmenot]

I like the sex thanks