Sharing the joy of a Methodist wedding

Last weekend, 11 and 12 April, the Methodist Church attended the National Wedding Show in London for the first time. A team of six people from across the Connexion helped celebrate the Methodist Church as a loving, inclusive and welcoming denomination, the perfect place to consider getting married.

Over two days the team spoke with hundreds of people, sharing over 500 copies of the new guide to marriage in the Methodist Church ‘Not Your Ordinary Marriage’, with many people leaving a prayer on the prayer tree that was part of the display stand.

Rachel, one of the volunteers reflected on her time at the show, "Some encounters really stood out for me. One was a lady from South London. She is looking for a church to attend, but wanted prayer that her fiancé would want to go with her.

"A lady from St Mark's Methodist Church in Tottenham attended with the family as her daughter is getting married. She was delighted to see that the Methodist Church was present and chatting with people at the event."

Andrea, another one of the volunteers commented that she ‘really felt able to speak of welcome,’ "We are proud that the Methodist Church offers a non-judgemental welcome to all and it was a joy to share that with couples from across the UK as they prepare for their big day."

Bryn Lauder, the Festival Events Coordinator for the Connexion who arranged for the Methodist Church to attend the show, "Our new marriage guide has been produced to share the richness and beauty of a wedding in the Methodist Church. Copies of the booklet are available to order here.

"Perhaps they could be displayed in churches for the wider community to read, or perhaps you could attend your local wedding show and use them to engage folk there?"