Baptisms, Weddings & Funerals

There are key moments in all of our lives and in the lives of our families — new life, two lives being brought together, and a life drawing to an end. We as your local churches wish to be part of those key moments of your lives, if you would like us to, and we consider it an honour and a privilege to be able to do so.

If you are looking for a baptism or thanksgiving of a child in any of our churches then please do go to the Baptisms section. If you are looking to be married in any of our churches then please do go to the Weddings section. Finally, if you would like to say goodbye to a loved at any of our churches or have funeral or churchyard question please do go to the Funerals section.

However, if you are in anyway unsure or uncertain then please do simply get in contact with us using the Contact Us webpage as we are more than happy to answer your questions or do our best to meet your request.

Baptisms

We looking have yourself or one of your children baptised it best to enquire at your local church first. If you are living within the Benefice of Coniston and the Crake Valley then you have a right to request baptism in any of our churches. However, if you or your family are not resident to the benefice we are still happy to consider requests for baptism — we have even had two baptisms in the River Crake!

Baptisms are usually conducted within a Sunday Service so that there is an opportunity for the wider Church family to welcome the new member. However, separate baptism services are possible. It is important to say that there are no fees charged for conducting a baptism.

If you are interested in arranging a baptism then please do be in contact with the vicar, by telephone on 01229 861668 or email via . Alternatively, please use the baptism booking form below:

Please do download the Baptism Application Form in either Word or PDF format, complete and return, many thanks

For more information about baptisms then please do visit the Carlisle diocese's webpage on Baptisms and/or the Church of England's Baptisms webpage, both provide extensive information and extra resources.

Weddings

We are always delighted to conduct weddings in any of the churches in the benefice, wherever possible. Please do not be afraid to contact us, as we endeavour to make your wedding happen to the best of our ability.

Your Church Wedding Website

If you have any questions about arrangements, legalities and what is and is not possible then it is best to simply...ask, and again we will endeavour to give you the best and most accurate answer. However, most questions can be answered by the excellent Church of England wedding website Your Church Wedding. This website also has an extensive range of readings for your wedding and wedding music and songs to listen to and choose.

However, the wedding process is fairly simple and starts with a face-to-face meeting with the vicar — but fear not, he understands the fears and worries, and will be as gentle as possible. After the initial meeting, there is normally time to go away to plan and prepare before a second and final meeting, and usually a rehearsal, and then finally, the big day!

If you are interested in arranging a baptism then please do be in contact with the vicar, by telephone on 01229 861668 or email via . Alternatively, please use the wedding booking form below:

Wedding Fees

There are a number of charges associated with weddings that are statutory and fixed, and therefore we are obliged to charge, and others that are optional depending upon the needs of the couple. The optional fees vary from church to church, so please do click on the church below for the full set of fees. However, if you  do have questions or concerns about fees then, once again, do be in contact.

For payment of wedding fees, again contact us, or please go to our Giving & Payments webpage.

For more information about weddings then please do visit the Carlisle diocese's webpage on Weddings and/or the Church of England's Weddings webpage, both provide extensive information and extra resources.

Funerals

We realise that at one of the most difficult times of life, when we have had to say goodbye to a loved one, that there are suddenly so many decisions to be made and questions that need answers. If you feel overwhelmed or are struggling then be reassured that this is perfectly normal — but do please be in contact for a helpful word or a guiding hand.

For funerals the first port of call in normal circumstances would be to speak to a funeral director, and they would then be in contact with us. If you would prefer to speak to us first then again, please do, and go to our Contact Us webpage. From that point, the funeral director in conjunction with ourselves will make all the necessary arrangements and guide you through.

The are a number of options for funerals, as a funeral can be held in one of our churches, in a local crematorium or at the graveside for a burial. In addition, you may wish to have a smaller, quiet, family-only funeral followed by a memorial service at a later date. We can discuss all these options with you.

If at any point before the funeral or memorial, or afterwards then please be reassured that if you would like to speak to someone then you can always contact the vicar, or the Pastoral Team. The Pastoral Team are trained and specialize in speaking to people dealing with bereavement and grief, so please do be in contact with Pastoral Team Leader, Barbara Watson, if you find speaking to someone helpful.

Funeral Fees

There are a number of charges associated with funerals that are statutory and fixed, and therefore we are obliged to charge, and others that are optional depending upon the funeral. The optional fees vary from church to church, so please do click on the church below for the full set of fees. However, if you  do have questions or concerns about fees then, once again, do be in contact.

Headstones & Memorials

All of our churchyards in the Benefice of Coniston and the Crake Valley are in the Lake District National Park. Therefore, to ensure that churchyards remain in-keeping with the landscape and our beautiful surroundings, there are certain rules, regulations and guidelines to installation of headstones and memorials in our churchyards. These regulations are outlined by Carlisle Diocese and are available online. 

When you would like to add a headstone or a memorial to a grave in one of our churchyards then please do download and complete a Memorial Application Form in Word or PDF. You will need to be in contact with a stonemason, and give then the application form which they will then send on to us.

For more information about funerals or churchyards then please do visit the Carlisle diocese's webpage on Funerals and/or the Church of England's Funerals webpage, both provide extensive information and extra resources.