Wedding ceremonies and baptisms (also known as christenings) have taken place at St Peter’s for centuries. We are delighted to continue this tradition by offering the splendid setting of Burnley’s historic parish church as a venue for your special day.
St Peter’s offers easy access, convenient free parking, wheelchair access, hearing loop and comfortable seating; it is a venue to suit all.
Baptism
In baptism, we thank God for his gift of life and publicly acknowledge his love. In the Anglican Church it is common to baptise young children; this is sometimes known as christening. Baptism is a ‘sacrament’ (holy ritual to symbolise grace) in the Christian tradition that is traced back to Jesus himself being baptised in the River Jordan.
Weddings
Today more than a quarter of all marriages in England take place before God in the traditional setting of a Church of England church. You are welcome to marry in church whatever your beliefs, whether or not you are baptised, and whether or not you go to church. We can provide music to enhance your wedding ceremony (the church posseses a fine pipe organ, recently restored at a cost of £170,000 and a Steinway Boston Grand Piano).
You can marry in a Church of England church if you can show that one of you:
- has at any time lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months or
- was baptised in the parish concerned or
- was prepared for confirmation in the parish or
- has at any time regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church 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 for a period of at least 6 months or
- has regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months or
That one of your parents or grandparents:
- was married in the parish
And did you know that if you move house, you’re immediately connected to the church there? That means you can marry in the church of your new parish.
In all cases involving church services – i.e. going to normal church services, baptism, confirmation or marriage – this applies only to Church of England services. Even if you cannot demonstrate any of the above connections, we want to help you explore whether it may still be possible for you to marry in your special church.
Baptisms are performed free of charge, although you will need to pay £11 for the certificate of baptism. Weddings cost £585 (this covers all legal fees, church expenses, provision of clergy, organist, and flower arranging). The cost of flowers has not been included in this figure as the price varies according to time of year and individual requirements.
A useful guide to baptisms and weddings can be found at: churchofengland.org
Funerals
Funerals must be arranged directly by the undertaker with the Curate-in-Charge, Fr Paul Payton.
If you would like to make an enquiry, or simply require further information, please use the contact page on this website to send us an e-mail.
St Peter's Church 