Life Events
We are here to accompany you through your walk of faith and some of life’s most significant moments.
A safe place to ask questions
Beginning a life of faith
Remembering and giving thanks
Celebrating love and commitment
Baptisms & Confirmations
Beginning and exploring a life of faith
Baptism marks the beginning of life within the Church as a worldwide family of faith. Whether you are considering Baptism for your child, exploring it for yourself as an adult, or thinking about Confirmation, we would be pleased to talk with you about your next steps might be.
For Children and Families
Baptism, also known as Christening, welcomes a person into the life of the Church and the worldwide family of Christian faith.
Adult Baptism
Adults who have come to faith (and weren’t baptised as children) or are beginning to explore faith are warmly invited to talk with us about Baptism.
Confirmation
Confirmation is an opportunity to affirm the promises made at Baptism and deepen your participation in the life of the Church.
Exploring Faith
Not sure what you think yet?
If you have questions about Christianity or want to explore faith, you are welcome to talk with us.
Find out more →
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Baptism, sometimes called Christening, marks a person’s entry into the Church as part of the worldwide family of faith.
At St Mary-le-Bow, we welcome those who wish to be baptised here, as well as parents who would like to have their children baptised or christened.
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Baptisms usually take place during one of our regular services at St Mary-le-Bow. On occasion, we can also arrange a separate service on a Saturday or Sunday.
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The first step is simply to get in touch. We can talk with you about Baptism or Christening at St Mary-le-Bow and what happens next.
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Yes. If you were not baptised as a child but would now like to be baptised, we would be pleased to accompany you through this stage of your journey of faith.
Adult Baptism is usually combined with, or followed soon afterwards by, Confirmation by a Bishop.
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Confirmation is a Sacrament of Initiation which marks our full membership of the Church. It is also usually the point at which we begin to receive Holy Communion.
Holy Communion is God’s presence with us in bread and wine, our nearest foretaste of heaven here on earth.
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If you would like to explore Adult Baptism or Confirmation, you will be invited to have a series of conversations with Fr Simon as part of your preparation.
General Baptism FAQ
You don't need to be preparing for Baptism or Confirmation to speak with us about faith. If you are curious about Christianity, returning to church after some time away, or have questions you would like to explore, you are welcome to get in touch.
The Christian faith is the most wonderful adventure, and offers so much to our lives today. If you would like to explore faith for yourself, please get in touch.
Fr Simon is happy to meet informally, including over coffee, and talk through whatever you would like to discuss.
Exploring Faith?
Weddings & Blessings
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To be married at St Mary-le-Bow, you need to have a qualifying connection with the church.
This might include having been baptised or confirmed here, or having a parent or grandparent who was married here.
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If you do not already have a qualifying connection with St Mary-le-Bow, you can establish one by attending services regularly here for at least six months.
Please get in touch with us to discuss your connection with St Mary-le-Bow and your legal right to marry here.
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Once your legal right to marry at St Mary-le-Bow has been established, you will normally have two or three conversations with Fr Simon or another member of the clergy as you prepare for your wedding and married life together.
We are always happy to hear from couples who are interested in getting married at St Mary-le-Bow, or who would like to celebrate their marriage or civil partnership with a service of prayer and blessing.
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St Mary-le-Bow has a proud tradition of LGBTQIA+ welcome and inclusion.
Our PCC unanimously supported the introduction of the Church of England's Prayers of Love and Faith.
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Whilst we are not yet able to marry same-sex couples in the Church of England, Fr Simon would be pleased to help couples find a local church community able to offer marriage.
We are also very happy to offer services of prayer and blessing for couples who have recently married or entered into a civil partnership.
These services offer an opportunity to celebrate your commitment before God, surrounded by family and friends.
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Yes. We would be very happy to discuss a service of prayer and blessing following a civil marriage or civil partnership.
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Yes. We are also happy to offer services of prayer and blessing for couples celebrating a significant anniversary.
Marriage & Civil Partnership Blessings
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We recognise that those who have experienced the breakdown of a previous marriage may have questions about whether it is possible to marry again in church.
If either of you has previously been married, you will be invited to meet with Fr Simon to discuss your circumstances and explore the possibility of marriage at St Mary-le-Bow.
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There are some circumstances in which we may not be able to offer a church marriage.
Where this is the case, we may instead be able to offer a service of prayer and blessing following a civil marriage.
Marriage after Divorce
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Our Director of Music will work with you to choose music and hymns for your wedding or blessing.
Music can include the organ and piano, and it may also be possible to arrange soloists or choral accompaniment.
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The Bow Bells can be rung at the beginning and end of your wedding or blessing, subject to the availability of bell ringers.
Bell-ringer expenses apply, and arrangements can be made with our Steeple Keeper.
Music for Weddings & Blessings
Funerals & Memorials
“I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8.38–39
In the event of the loss of a friend or loved one, Fr Simon and other members of the St Mary-le-Bow family are always available to speak to.
If you are reading this and are recently bereaved, please know that St Mary-le-Bow is here for you, even if just for a chat in church or over a cup of tea. If a friend or loved one has recently died and you would like to talk things through, please do get in touch.
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Anyone with a connection to St Mary-le-Bow or Cheapside is entitled to have their funeral at St Mary-le-Bow, regardless of their faith or belief.
Funerals at St Mary-le-Bow take place according to the funeral liturgy of the Church of England.
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If the person who has died did not have a connection with St Mary-le-Bow or Cheapside, we can help you make contact with their local parish church for the funeral.
It may then be possible to hold a memorial service at St Mary-le-Bow afterwards.
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A Christian funeral gives us an opportunity to grieve for the person who has died and to commend them to God.
A funeral at St Mary-le-Bow would ordinarily take place within Holy Communion (the Mass) and can include music, readings and tributes.
It is also possible to have a shorter funeral without Holy Communion, which can similarly include music, readings and tributes.
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Yes. Funerals can also take place at a crematorium or at the graveside.
A crematorium service is usually shorter, but can still include music, readings and tributes which reflect the life of the person who has died.
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Funeral fees are based on those set by the Church of England and vary from year to year.
Please contact us for details of the current fees.
A Christian funeral gives us the opportunity to grieve for the person who has died and to commend them to God. It is shaped by the Christian hope that death does not have the final word, and that in Christ the living and the departed remain united in the communion of the Church.
At St Mary-le-Bow, a funeral would ordinarily take place within Holy Communion (the Mass), although a shorter service without Holy Communion is also possible. Both can include music, readings and tributes that reflect the life of the person who has died.
Christian Funerals
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Memorial services can be held for someone who had a connection with St Mary-le-Bow or who had expressed a desire for a memorial service here.
A memorial service will usually take place some time after the funeral and offers an opportunity for family and friends to come together to celebrate and reflect upon the person's life.
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A memorial service can include music, readings and prayers, with an opportunity for family and friends to remember and give thanks for the life of the person who has died.
Memorial Services
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Yes. Our Director of Music can work with you to choose appropriate music for the service.
This can include hymns, organ and piano music, and it may also be possible to arrange soloists or choral accompaniment.
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The Bow Bells can be rung at the beginning and end of a funeral or memorial service, subject to the availability of bell ringers.
Bell-ringer expenses apply, and arrangements can be made with our Steeple Keeper.