Bishop of Chelmsford: Church marriages - cheap, cheerful and not at all tacky

A BISHOP has been selling the true value of the traditional church wedding to couples planning their dream day.

Cheap but certainly not tacky was the message from the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell, as the diocese competed for business among bare-chested male models, stretched limousines and magicians at the Heart FM Wedding Fair in the Brentwood Centre on Saturday.

Enticing brides and grooms-to-be with Love Hearts sweets, a friendly smile and leaflets to get hitched in a "proper" traditional setting – the Church of England team explained how cheap and easy it could prove to be at a time when so many have limited budgets.

The Rt Rev Cottrell, who admitted to being a "wedding fair virgin" until two weeks ago, told the Gazette couples could get hitched for as little as £350 in one of their churches and that many non-churchgoers did not realise parish churches were available for their big day. Read more