Baptisms, Weddings, Confirmation and Funerals
Weddings
We are always happy to receive enquiries about getting married at St Mary’s. If you have a connection with the parish it is very easy to arrange your wedding – look on www.yourchurchwedding.org for more information.
More information is also available here or contact Revd Canon Marion Russell.
Baptisms
Baptism is for everyone – there is no age limit! However, we make slightly different arrangements for babies and young children, for older children, and for adults of whatever age.
Baptisms of children usually take place on the first Sunday of the month during All Age Worship which starts at 9.30am. If you would like your child to be baptised it is a good idea to come along on a first Sunday to see what we are like! You can either phone Marion or the churchwarden to let us know you’re coming, or you’re welcome to turn up for 9.30am. Do ask if you’d like more details.
For adults, please contact Revd Canon Marion Russell to arrange a meeting.
Communion before Confirmation
In common with most Church of England churches, St Mary’s offers a short preparation course for children aged seven and over who are regular attenders at church, after which they are able to receive bread and wine at Communion services. More information is available from Canon Marion – chat over coffee after the service or make an arrangement to hear more.
Confirmations
St Mary’s joins in with three other churches in the Skipton area (Holy Trinity, Christchurch and St Mary’s in Carleton) to run a joint confirmation course for young people aged 11 and over who wish to confirm their commitment of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and the Christian way of life. This course runs over several months from October to Easter, and involves visits to a range of Christian and other faith communities. In previous years, there have been visits to the Community of the Resurrection in Mirfield, Fountains Abbey and to the cathedrals in Liverpool.
A separate course is run for adults who wish to be confirmed, which takes place over five or six evening meetings.
If you are interested in taking part in either course, please contact Canon Marion.
Funerals
Churchyards are sacred ground and very special places of peace, tranquillity and beauty.
For these and other reasons, people continue to want a churchyard burial or interment of ashes, either for themselves or for their loved ones.
We are very pleased that you are considering our churchyard and we have produced a booklet that will guide you through the questions you may have.
Everyone who lives in the parish of Embsay with Eastby, or who has a connection with St Mary’s church in other ways, is welcome to have their funeral service here. The churchyard is also open for burials and interment of ashes, within current regulations.
The clergy are also available to anyone living in the parish or connected with St Mary’s to conduct funeral services at the crematorium, or the funeral director’s parlour, or at a local cemetery.
This leaflet sets out the various statutory and local fees incurred for funerals and services of the clergy.
There is no charge for clergy time spent with you in preparing the funeral and supporting you afterwards. St Mary’s also commits to praying for you at this time and on the anniversary of the death.
For more information, please contact:
Revd Canon Marion Russell – Vicar of St Mary’s :
01756 795625 | marion.russell@leeds.anglican.org