Banns of Marriage for those getting married at a Church of England Church other than St Laurence. If you live in the parish of St Laurence Church you will need to get your banns of marriage read in St Laurence Church within 3 months of your wedding day. To do this: - 1. Check that you really do live in the parish by typing your post-code into www.achurchnearyou.com/parishfinder.php Note it isn’t quite accurate. Staple Lodge Road – even house numbers only Popes Lane – odd house numbers only 2. Make an appointment to see the Rector – tel 0121 477 3111 3. Please bring a current British Passport* and evidence of your address e.g. a bank statement or bill (not more than 3 months old) or driving licence. We need to check your nationality and identity so you do have to attend in person. *If you do not have a current British Passport then you will need to bring your full Birth Certificate and other evidence to prove that you are legally entitled to be married. Please contact us in plenty of time before your wedding if this is the case. (Please note that we are legally bound to do this even though the parish where you are getting married should have already done this.) 4. There will be a fee to pay to cover the cost of reading the banns and providing you with a certificate. It is currently £46 (2021). It normally goes up by a small amount on 1 January each year. Cheques should be made payable to St Laurence PCC. You can also pay by bacs 5. Come and hear your banns read in church on at least one of the three Sundays. We normally read the banns on the first three Sundays of the month two months prior to your wedding day e.g. if you are getting married in September we will read your banns on the first 3 Sundays of July. 6. Pick up your banns certificate either at the service on the day of the final reading of the banns or from the Parish Office. The office is open Mon- Fri 9am – noon Tel 0121 457 1518 or e-mail stlaurence@btconnect.com but best to make contact in advance to avoid disappointment.