Please contact us for information about weddings, wedding blessings, renewal of marriage vows and for baptisms at St Alphege Church, Whitstable.

Baptisms (Christenings)

We welcome all enquiries about baptisms, christenings or thanksgivings, please contact us .

Further information: www.churchofenglandchristenings.org

We welcome all enquiries about weddings, please contact us to arrange an appointment

Please bring your Birth Certificates and photo ID along when you come to book your wedding.

If either of you has been married (unless widowed), or involved in a Civil Partnership before, it is necessary for you to speak to the Vicar, before a firm booking can be taken.

Even if neither of you lives in Whitstable, if you have a Qualifying Connection you may still be married at St Alphege Church.

Qualifying Connections

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

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

one of your parents, at any time after you were born: has regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months, or

one of your parents or grandparents: was married in the parish.

Wedding Banns

Your Banns of Marriage will be read on the first three Sundays of the month before your wedding at our main service, unless we make a different arrangement with you.

If one or both of you lives in another area, you must arrange to have your Banns read in your local Parish Church as well and bring the Banns Certificate to the priest who will be marrying you here, before the wedding.

You will be asked for a statutory fee at that church for the reading and certificate.

Further information: www.yourchurchwedding.org.
For reading of wedding banns, visit A Church Near You to search for your Parish Church(es).

We welcome all enquiries about blessings for same sex couples during our Wednesday or Sunday services. Please contact us to arrange an appointment.

These prayers will be offered for same-sex couples in a committed relationship who wish to give thanks for and mark that love in faith before God.

Please note that qualifying connections (such as residential addresses or family connections) do not apply to blessings for same sex couples.

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Same-sex couples already in civil partnerships or civil marriages, or who have sealed a covenanted friendship, can now be offered Prayers of Love and Faith at St Alphege Church, following a unanimous decision by the PCC, and after consultation with the congregation.

Our fees for weddings in 2026 are as follows:-

  • Basic Fee which includes Banns and Service £605
  • Services of verger before, during and after service (essential) £48

    Options

  • Church Heating (October to April) £ 75
  • Use of organ & organist (inc if you provide your own organist) £131
  • Choir £130
  • Bells (if ringers available) £130
  • PA Operator where recorded music is played £21
    If you have everything above, the total for May to September Weddings is £1065 and October to April £1140.
    Deposit of £50 to be paid on booking.

    Wedding blessing in Church, £450
    Wedding blessing in Chapel, Donation

    Marriage Preparation

    Guide price for possible options for flowers:

    Our Flower Arrangers are willing to provide the following flowers by arrangement, please contact us.

    Pedestal, £120 each.
    Extra large Porch pedestal £150
    Smaller table arrangement £30.
    Gypsophila posy pew ends with own choice of ribbon £14 each (alternate pews x14 = £196)
    Ribbon bow pew ends £50 for all alternate pews (or £100 for every pew)
    We require 6 weeks notice for ordering flowers and payment 4 weeks before the wedding. Payment may be made at the same time as paying for the wedding.

    The balance of payment for your wedding (and flowers if you are having them done by our team), must be made at least one calendar month before your wedding. Please https://www.yourchurchwedding.org. If you have any queries please contact us. You would be very welcome to any of our worship either online or in church. Our Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/StAlphegeChurchWhitstable.
  • Marriage Preparation Session in 2025

    St Alphege Church is part of the Whitstable Team Ministry, and we run Marriage Preparation Sessions each year. We strongly recommend this day to all our wedding couples, and the feedback we get is very positive!

    The 2025 course will be on 9am to 3.30pm, Saturday 29 March 2025 at Seasalter Christian Centre, Faversham Road, Seasalter.

    The Marriage Preparation session is a chance for you to deepen your relationship and prepare for your on-going life together, so please keep the date free. You will receive an invitation nearer the time.

    If you are interested in having a wedding blessing, please contact us
    In 2025 the fee for a wedding blessing in church is £425 (For a small ceremony In chapel for under 20 people a donation is accepted)