Weddings & Baptism
Students, staff and former members are usually able to use the Chapel for services for themselves and their close family members.
If you are connected with the College and wish to be baptized or have a child baptized, please contact the chaplain andrew.teal@pmb.ox.ac.uk.
There are important legal protocols with weddings: if you are interested please contact the Chaplain who will let you have an information sheet. We want to be as hospitable as we can – so please do discuss invitations for other ministers with the Chaplain.
The Chaplain and the officiating minister will want to meet with you before any service and will be happy to show you around chapel and practice the service.
In the case of weddings, a Special Licence is currently required. We will be glad to do all that we can to accommodate your wishes but we are not a parish church, so marriages may be conducted only if a Special Licence is granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
This means that it is not within the college’s gift to marry everyone who requests to be married here. However you must seek the permission of the college before you approach the Archbishop.
If you wish to be married here, there are two people whom you should contact:
(a) The Chaplain, Andrew Teal, who will be able to explain whether you circumstances are such that the Archbishop is likely to grant a licence, to advise on the availability of chapel, and to give other informal advice about arrangements for weddings in college. The Chaplain will also liaise with the current organ scholars about music for the service (see further below under fees). Andrew.teal@pmb.ox.ac.uk
(b) The Conference and Events Manager, who will be able to advise as to whether other rooms that may required are available on a given date. Please note that the chapel is often available even when other rooms and facilities are in use for other activities. Heather.earwicker@pmb.ox.ac.uk
There are a number of legal and other costs associated with being married in the college chapel, and if you want a minister of your own you should be aware that you are responsible for her or his traveling expenses and any expenses of office s/he may charge. Any visiting Officiating Minister should be a clerk in holy orders in good standing with the Church of England (or a church in full communion with it).
(a) Costs of the Licence and Legal fees for the Marriage
These are available from the Chaplain. The full cost of a wedding including all the legalities from 1 October 2011 to 30 September 2012 is £475. (Without music - see below)
(b) Musicians The college is often available to provide musicians for the service (usually the current organ and choral scholars, or members of the College Music society), to whom a fee is paid.
Fees for musicians are as follows:
(i) organist £150
(ii) conductor (if required): £80
(iii) vocal soloist £100
(iv) Singers: £65
(v) string quartet: £300
(c) Reception
Should you wish to have your reception in college, prices vary according to the catering you require.
Subject to availability, college can provide receptions to suit your needs. Hall and the Forte Room may be used for receptions, depending on the number of guests and on other college commitments. Some overnight accommodation for guests may be available.
Please address any further queries concerning the availability of chapel, the licence application and the Marriage Service to the Chaplain, and those concerning the availability of function rooms and catering to the Conference and Events Manager.
Mrs Heather Earwicker, Conference and Events Manager
conferences@pmb.ox.ac.uk
01865 276484
Revd Dr Andrew Teal, Chaplain
chaplain@pmb.ox.ac.uk 01865 286276
Donations to the Chapel
A donation for the use of the Chapel would be much appreciated.
Please note: that photography and recording in the chapel is subject to UK copyright laws for which the College cannot be held responsible.
Usually events in the chapel are linked to other facilities in the college such as catering and accommodation. Please contact the Conference & Banqueting Office to discuss your requirements.
We want your use of the chapel and college facilities to be as convenient and advantageous to you as possible. We ask you to bear in mind that the essential function of the college as an academic community may, on occasion, limit what we are able to offer.