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We want to help you celebrate or remember the special occasions and loved ones in your life, bringing them before God and seeking his blessing. Your local parish church is available for baptisms, weddings and funerals and we are only too pleased to help and offer advice. We welcome all enquiries and will do all that we can to ensure that you get the most from the occasion and have a great day.
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At St John's Stoke we share your joy at the birth of your child and we are pleased to discuss further the importance of baptism to you and your child. With your help, baptism is the start of your child's exciting journey into the Christian faith and we are here to help you as you prepare for this important commitment and step. For some parents, a thanksgiving service is often more suitable when they feel that they do not want to make the baptism promises, but still want to thank God for the gift of their precious child. To have your child baptised at St John’s Stoke you must live in the parish of Stoke-next-Guildford or be a member of the church family and regularly attend the church. We will be pleased to talk further with you about which service may be more appropriate for you. For more details please contact the Church Office on:
01483 574562
Alternatively, you can download the form (below) and post it back to us with your details:
For those who have not been baptised as an infant, and would like to be baptised as a believer, we offer the opportunity for you to be baptised by total immersion. These baptisms are great occasions in the life of a church and a cause for celebration. We would normally have these baptisms in our morning services so that the whole church can join in the celebration and share in your joy. There is opportunity in the service for you to declare your own faith, share your story and tell something of how you came to faith in Jesus Christ. If you would like to be baptised as a believer, please talk to Mark who will be pleased to talk about it with you and help you prepare for your baptism.
Weddings are particularly happy occasions in the life of St John’s Stoke and the local community and we welcome all enquiries from anyone looking to get married at the church. If you are considering marriage, we will be very pleased to meet with you and discuss your plans and help you to have a wonderful wedding day. Mark will visit you at home to meet with you and talk about your wedding and he will also invite you to attend a ‘Marriage Preparation Day’ with others couples who are preparing to get married. Any person resident in the parish of Stoke-next-Guildford is entitled to be married in the church. Anyone not resident in the parish can still be married in the church if they have a connection with this parish or its church. Mark will be pleased to discuss this with you and help you to get married here if you would like that. We believe that marriage and family life are at the heart of the local community and we will be pleased to discuss your wedding with you. Please do not hesitate to get in touch.
You can download the form (below) and post it back to us with your details: Most weddings in the Church of England can only take place after the Banns of Marriage have been called in the parish church on three consecutive Sundays. The Banns are a legal obligation inviting anyone who knows any lawful reason why you cannot get married to each other to declare it to the minister. If you would like your banns of marriage to be called at St John's Stoke because you live in the parish, but wish to be married in your partner's parish church, please contact the Church Office who give you the relevant forms. Your Banns will be called at our 10.30am services and you will informed of the dates. There is no legal obligation for you to be present when your Banns are read, but many couples choose to come to the church to hear them as part of the preparations for their wedding. We can only call banns of marriage for people who live in the parish of Stoke-next-Guildford. If you are unsure if you live in the parish, please telephone the Church Office for more details. Contact office@stjohnstoke.com
You can also download the form (below) and post it back to us with your details:
The policy at St John's Stoke is that those whose first marriage has ended in divorce, even if they live in the parish, may not be married in the Church. However a 'Service of prayer and Dedication after a Civil Marriage' (Wedding Blessing) is available. A wedding blessing takes place when a Civil Marriage has taken place and a couple wish to dedicate their marriage to God. Wedding blessings take place at St John's Stoke based on the usual residency requirements. Contact Mark if you wish to discuss. The Marriage Course is a series of eight sessions designed to help any married couple strengthen their relationship. It's a great opportunity to spend time together as a couple looking at the important issues in your marriage. The Marriage Course is very practical and will help equip you with the tools needed to build a healthy marriage that lasts a lifetime. There is then time to discuss your relationship in private. Why not give your relationship an MOT and invest time in enriching your marriage? Our Marriage Course is run jointly with St Peter's Church, Stoke Hill. Contact the office for details of next course. Please email Each evening will begin with drinks and nibbles, followed by a DVD talk on one of the following topics:
When sad and difficult times come along we are here to help you, particularly when you lose a loved one. At St John's Stoke we are able to lead funeral services and to spend time with you in your grief. We will offer help and advice in planning the funeral service and will support you through the grieving process, particularly through praying for you and your family at this time. If you need help with planning a funeral please contact the church office on 01483 574562 and Mark or Di will be in touch with you shortly afterwards. |
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