Jan Harney's blog

The Church of England has been quoted in the Press as saying that married couples have better sex and more of it. They even use the word spectacular. Wow - that's worth having an early night for! read more »

It's been another 'week that was'! read more »

I bet no-one else reading this website is old enough to remember the TV programme with the title above...it was a roundup of all the happenings in the week. Anyway it has been an amazing week in the Church of England and I'm delighted to be part of it! The long awaited Marriage Measure became law on October 1st and we've been celebrating. Hopefully you'll think it's a cause for celebration too as you now have much more freedom in your choice of venue for a church wedding.Hurray! read more »

This morning, while walking my dogs, I noticed a poster on the lamp post. It's a favourite community place for sticking up planning applications, special birthdays of the "Guess who is 40" variety, and Lost Cat photographs. Today's picture showed a couple roaring with laughter. Their names were written underneath and the words 'Just Married' boldly across the top. A cause for celebration indeed. read more »

A trip to Holy Island (Lindisfarne) was on my list of 'things to do before you die' and so our 32nd wedding anniversary last weekend was spent under canvas at Goswick in Northumberland. Whilst visiting the Heritage Centre on the island I chanced upon some weird and wonderful wedding day traditions. read more »

We do weddings superbly in the Church of England. At the risk of blowing our Parish Trumpet I'd go so far as to say that we are THE experts. We're also pretty good at funerals and fantastic at Thanksgivings and Baptisms (and we don't charge for these latter two services, unlike the civil naming ceremonies that are becoming popular). But what you may not be aware of is that the Church is able to offer a service of Blessing after civil marriage. read more »

There is a new and eminently sensible trend for getting married on Fridays.

As far as the Church of England is concerned you've always been able to get married on any day of the week. Even on a Sunday as long as it doesn't clash with the times of our Worship services. The only legal requirement is to be married in daylight hours. I think this stems back to the time when brides covered their faces with veils and everyone needed to see exactly who was marrying whom - especially the groom. read more »

Well it's that time of year again when most of us are destined to sit in hot cars in traffic jams or on suitcases in the airport awaiting delayed flights and hoping desperately to be re-united with said suitcase when actually arriving at the holiday resort. We must be mad! read more »

I'm secretly praying for sunshine again tomorrow as I'm officiating at another wedding. The bride and groom are both lovely and, as we've spent quite a bit of time together, I'm getting to know them better. But it's Billy, the father of the bride, that I know well. Very well in fact, as I had a year long relationship with him last year. read more »

It's ages since I posted a blog - a combination of busyness and a virus on my computer that took some getting rid of! But while I've been absent there was a significant happening that will make it easier for you to marry in the place of your dreams. read more »