Weddings, Baptisms, Funerals ^and other occasions^^^

Coventry Cathedral is a very special place in which to mark the momentous occasions in your life. However, for some events, we are governed by the rules of the Church of England, and in the case of marriages by the law of the country, as to who is eligible to use the Cathedral for these events. Please read the following guidelines carefully and then contact us to discuss your occasion.

Contact the Canon Precentor's office by sending an email to tammy.james@coventrycathedral.org.uk 

A full immersion baptism

Baptism and Confirmation

For Baptism you need to be a worshipping member of the community (which includes Community of the Cross of Nails centres) or have strong pastoral reasons for desiring baptism here.  If you qualify, we have services where baptism is offered through either sprinkling or immersion.

Confirmation services take place twice a year at Easter and in November, and we also admit children to communion prior to confirmation on a regular basis. Confirmation preparation for children is usually done with a parent. The course lasts for 5 weeks and explores who Jesus was, the meaning of his death and resurrection, how we enjoy a relationship with God and what baptism, communion and confirmation are.   

Marriages and Blessings

We welcome applications for weddings at the Cathedral, though the law requires certain qualifications to be met.

The qualification for getting married in the Cathedral is to be resident in the Cathedral parish, or to be a regular worshipper at the Cathedral, and a member of our Electoral Roll. (Please note that the change in the law in 2008 making it easier for couples to get married in a church where they have a family or other special connection even if they don't live in the parish does not apply to Cathedrals.)

A Cathedral wedding

Those who are able to demonstrate a strong personal link with the Cathedral can apply for a licence to the Archbishop of Canterbury's faculty office. We can advise you on that, but you should be aware that a fee is payable for an Archbishop's License, and it is not always granted.

It may be that these options are not open to you. If that is the case, we would be happy to explore the possibility of a service of blessing in the Cathedral, which normally follows a civil wedding ceremony. No particular legal requirements apply in this situation.

We have a number of lovely chapels which are suitable for more intimate family gatherings, as well as the Nave for larger groups. We can also offer spaces for a reception, bells, music and the wonderful setting of the Ruins for your photographs.

Funerals

Funerals and Services of Thanksgiving held at the Cathedral are largely those of worshipping members of the Cathedral community. Others who qualify include serving police, fire and other security officers; members of the Armed Forces; those who hold or have held Civic office in city and county. There are sometimes individual reasons why a funeral may be permissible in the Cathedral for people other than members of the community. The decision lies entirely with the Dean in these circumstances.