Life Events
Here for every moment.
Life is full of moments that matter, from new beginnings and celebrations to times of sadness and loss.
At Haven Church, we’re here to help you mark those moments, bringing people together and making space for God along the way.
Find out more about baptisms and christenings, weddings, marriage blessings and funerals below.
Click the button below to head to the section you would like to find out more about!
Baptisms & Christenings
A moment to celebrate
We love baptisms at Haven Church!
Baptism is a wonderful moment in the life of the Church. It’s a celebration of God's love and an opportunity to begin, or mark, a journey of faith.
At Haven, we baptise people of all ages, from babies and children being brought for baptism (often called a Christening), to adults choosing baptism for themselves.
Find out more about Children’s Baptisms & Christenings or Adult Reaffirmations & Baptisms below.
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A Christening is a special opportunity to give thanks for your child, celebrate them with family and friends, and welcome them into the wider family of the Church.
During the service, parents and godparents make promises to support the child as they grow in faith, and we pray for them as they begin their own journey with God.
You don't need to have everything figured out before getting in touch. If you'd like to explore having your child baptised at Haven, we'd love to hear from you.
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Baptism isn't just for children.
If you've come to faith in Jesus and have never been baptised, baptism is an opportunity to publicly declare your faith and celebrate the new life we have in him.
If you were baptised earlier in life but would now like to make those promises for yourself, you may instead want to reaffirm your baptismal vows.
At Haven, adult baptisms can take place by full immersion or at the font, and we'd love to talk with you about what baptism or reaffirmation could look like for you.
Weddings & Marriages
Celebrating love and commitment
Getting married is a wonderful celebration, and we'd love to help you make your wedding day a meaningful and memorable one.
A church wedding is about more than the day itself. It's an opportunity to make your promises to one another before God, surrounded by the people you love, and to ask for God's blessing as you begin married life together.
Whether you're planning your wedding, would like your marriage blessed, want to celebrate and renew the promises you've already made, or simply need to arrange your Banns, you'll find the right place to start below.
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If you're thinking about getting married at Haven Church, we'd love to celebrate with you.
There are some legal requirements around who can marry in a particular Church of England church, usually based on where you live or another connection you have with the church or parish.
Don't worry if you're not sure whether you qualify — you can find out more about the legal requirements and qualifying connections below, and we'll help guide you through the process.
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Already legally married but would love to celebrate your marriage in church?
A wedding blessing is an opportunity to gather with family and friends, give thanks for your marriage and ask for God's blessing on your life together.
This could follow a civil ceremony, a wedding abroad or another legally recognised marriage ceremony, and can be a beautiful way of celebrating your marriage within the Church.
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Sometimes it's good to stop, look back and celebrate the journey you've shared.
Renewing your wedding vows is an opportunity to give thanks for your marriage, reaffirm your commitment to one another and ask for God's continued blessing for the years ahead.
Whether you're marking a significant anniversary or simply want to celebrate your marriage again, we'd love to share that moment with you.
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If you're getting married in another Church of England church but live within the Haven Church parish, you may need to have your Banns of Marriage read at Haven too.
Banns are a legal announcement in church of your intention to marry and are usually read on three Sundays before your wedding.
If the church where you're getting married has asked you to arrange for your banns to be read in your home parish, you can apply to do that with us below.
Fees and practical information
Click the links below for further information about arranging your wedding with Haven Church!
Funerals
Remembering someone you love
Losing someone we love is one of the hardest things we experience, and arranging a funeral can feel overwhelming at an already difficult time.
A Christian funeral gives family and friends the opportunity to come together, remember and give thanks for the life of the person who has died, to grieve their loss, and to find comfort in the hope of God.
At Haven Church, our ministers are here to support you as you prepare to say goodbye, helping you to create a service that reflects and celebrates the life of the person you love.
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If you would like a funeral to take place at one of our churches, or would like one of our ministers to conduct the service, your first point of contact should be a funeral director.
Your funeral director will help you with the initial arrangements and will contact Haven Church on your behalf to arrange the church and/or minister.
Once those arrangements have been made, the minister conducting the funeral will contact you. They'll spend time with you, hear about the person who has died and help you plan the service, including music, readings, prayers and the ways in which you'd like to remember and celebrate their life.
You don't need to have everything worked out before meeting with the minister — we'll help you through it.
If you're arranging a funeral, please contact a funeral director in the first instance. They will contact us on your behalf to make the initial arrangements.
Got questions?
We’re here to help!
If you're not sure where to start, have a question about any of our Life Events, or simply want to talk something through before taking the next step, we'd be happy to help.
Get in touch with the Haven Church team and we'll point you in the right direction.