Baptism
Do you have a baby whom you would like to be baptised? Perhaps you were not baptised as a youngster, and are considering baptism for yourself. In the service, we are thanking God for his gift of life, and starting you or your child on the journey of faith and asking for the Church's support. Either way it is worth taking a little time to consider the meaning of Baptism. An explanation of the Baptism service and what happens is available here.
Confirmation
This marks the point in the Christian journey at which the participation in the life of God’s people inaugurated at baptism, is confirmed by the bishop with the laying on of hands. Those who have been baptised affirm for themselves their faith and their intention to live a life of responsible and committed discipleship.
Weddings
To be
eligible to marry in the Parish, in addition
to the right of residency or six months of regular church attendance
followed by entry on the local church electoral roll, one of the
following six additional ‘connections’ to the preferred church can now
be accepted.* one of them was baptised or prepared for confirmation in the parish;
* one of them has ever lived in the parish for six months or more;
* one of them has at any time regularly attended public worship in the parish for six months or more;
* one of their parents has lived in the parish for six months or more in their child’s lifetime;
* one of their parents has regularly attended public worship there for six months or more in their child’s lifetime;
* their parents or grandparents were married in the parish read more..
This more flexible approach should help couples to marry in churches where their family connections are recognised.
Whether you're just contemplating marriage, or already planning your wedding day, your church wants to help and support you. There are some things about marrying in church that you just can't get anywhere else. It's your wedding. Let us help you make it personal, meaningful, spiritual, beautiful. If you need some help in planning your wedding ceremony this site is a useful starting point.
Marriage is one of the most important events in the course of our life. We would love to help you create a service which is personal and meaningful to you. No doubt you have many queries; here are some of the frequently asked questions about your marriage in the Church of England and an explanation of the Anglian marriage service Couples preparing for their wedding day want the vows be at the heart of their planning more than anything else according to new research among newly weds and also reveals 9 out of 10 rated their church wedding experience as good to excellent.
The online wedding magazine NewlyWeds-UK deals with many issues from engagement through the wedding day to married life. A booklet on Your Wedding within the parish of Burchetts Green can also be downloaded.
Times of Trouble or Bereavement
Pastoral Care - we have a team of pastoral visitors who have been commissioned to visit and offer spiritual support and friendship to people in the parish. This is organised through our Pastoral Care Co-ordinator Fiona Fieldhouse. Please contact Fiona on 01628 824574 for details.
Healing services are held in Hurley Church on a monthly basis and provide the space for quiet reflection within the context of the Holy Communion and the laying on of hands with prayers for healing.
Book of Commemoration
If you would like your loved ones remembered in this book and prayed for on the Sunday preceding the anniversary of their death, please contact the Parish Office and fill in the form for the 'Book of Remembrance'
Church members pray regularly for those who are unwell or in need. If you would like a prayer for yourself or someone close to you please contact us.
At the close of a human life on earth, the funeral is the opportunity for friends and family to express their grief, to give thanks for the life which has now completed it's journey in this world and to commend the person into God's keeping. The funeral service of the Church of England can be very short and quiet with only a few members of the family present or an occasion of great solemnity with music, hymns and a packed church. The Churchyard Policy can be downloaded.
Burial Records
Records of burials within the churchyard of St James the Less, Stubbings can be very helpful in the tracing of family histories. Some years ago Parish Churches were required to deposit old record books in the County Archives Office in Reading and you can access the older records, up to 1933, of Stubbings Church there. Please note that the front churchyard at Stubbings has been officially "closed" for burials for many years and that some of the memorial stones have been removed so it may not be possible to identify exactly where a person was buried.
However, the church has in its possession, burial register books for burials since 1934 and a data base exists for burials since this date with names, dates and positions on plans of the rear churchyard. Records are continually updated and these are available for inspection. Please contact the Parish Office by email if you would like any information from the data base. We request a donation to church funds in return for the answer . Visitors are, of course, very welcome to come to the churchyard to help make their research more satisfying.
Some documents are in Adobe .pdf format for free software download
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