Weddings

Sunday 13 January.

The blessing of the marriage of Bill and Susan Hopkins. For pictures of the couple please click here.

Sunday 18 November.

The morning of Sunday 18 November was dark and cloudy. Rain threatened but did not materialise. Many brought umbrellas, but they were not needed; the reception was held in the garden as usual. But this was outside the church. Inside all was bright; a brightness provided not only by the atmosphere of the new soft colours and warm lighting, courtesy of our self-help decorating team, but by the presence of a large congregation of 180 and the occasion of John and Sue Hoddinott's 40th wedding anniversary. John and Sue were going to be in Madeira on holiday for their anniversary and had asked if they might join in the service by reading the lessons and intercession prayers and particularly for our chaplain to give them a blessing. So John read the lesson - both lessons, because the first was very short - Sue read the intercession prayers and the chaplain blessed their relationship within the context of those with other similar relationships. Val Thwaites presented John and Sue with a gift and a card and our church witnessed yet another happy event.

Sunday 2 September.

David and Pauline Dixen have been married for 46 years, and in the course of their long and happy life together have visited Madeira many times; they now also have a more enduring link with the island through their son's marriage to a Madeiran. Having organised a cruise on a ship which stopped at Madeira - albeit for only a few hours - they took the opportunity to meet up with family and asked if our chaplain would add further relevance to their visit by carrying out a blessing of their original wedding vows.

So at 12.15, just as the morning service was ending and the congregation was moving out, they drove in - in an immaculate right-hand drive 1940s black convertible Sunbeam Talbot. He was in morning suit, complete with wing collar and stock; she was in a beautiful champagne outfit with wide matching hat; they were resplendent. The son was in full frock coat and stock and the couple were attended by their daughter-in-law as Matron of Honour and Grandaughter as Flower Girl. David and Pauline had asked that any member of the congregation who wished to witness the blessing would be very welcome and, delightfully, some 20 - 30 complete strangers joined the service.

The blessing mirrored a normal wedding service. A violinist played them in, David and Pauline renewed their vows with obvious love, the son read a reading, Melvin played two beautiful hymns - 'Love divine all loves excelling' and 'Lead us Heavenly Father, lead us' - and our chaplain gave the address. The service lasted about half an hour and David and Pauline came out of the church into hot sunshine and a shower of pink rose petals. Absolutely marvellous! On the steps of our church David and Pauline pledged to return for a repeat performance for their golden wedding anniversary in 2011: we wish them long life and more happiness together and hope to see them again then.

For pictures of the happy event, please click here.