Weddings, Baptisms & Funerals.
The historic churches of St Mary in Pokeno and St Peter’s in Bombay make ideal venues for your wedding, baptism or funeral.
Weddings.
An intimate, rural setting can add to the very special nature of your wedding day and there are some good local venues for the reception within a reasonable distance. St Mary’s can seat 90 people and St Peters about 75. In addition St Mary’s church has a peal of three bells which can be rung at the end of the service. Christian Marriage is a very important step, making your vows before God, as well as before your family and friends. We encourage you to contact us to explore with us how we can make you day very special Making a booking
We encourage you to plan well ahead with a date for your marriage. You are very welcome to visit either of our churches and talk with us about the options available to you. Please contact us for more details.
A donation of $500 is required. There may be an additional charge for the clergy and the organist. These charges will cover all aspects associated with your wedding, including time spent with you in planning your service, use of the church for a rehearsal the day of your wedding and the services of one of our clergy. Once you have made a booking with our administrator you will be sent an application form and a booklet giving some guidance on the planning of your wedding. All charges, arrangements and details will be included in the booklet. It is our expectation that one of the clergy of the parish will take the service. In special circumstances a minister from another church may take the service, but lay celebrants may not lead a church wedding service.
Baptisms.
Our parish welcomes baptisms. By Baptism we welcome the baptised to the start of their Christian journey. They are accepted as a member of the Church and as a member with Christ. Baptism involves using water as a symbol of purification, whilst invoking the Trinity of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, marking the baptized with water and with the sign of the cross.
In the Anglican tradition the majority of baptisms are of infants or young children, but baptism can be taken at any age. During the baptism service the parents and the God parents renew their commitment to Christ, as well as their commitment to nurture the child in the Christian faith in the years to come. The role of the God parents is to support the family in bringing the child up to believe and understand the Christian faith.
It is usual for the service of baptism to be held as part of the normal Sunday worship, ideally one of the family services, so that the newly baptised can be welcomed into the church. In planning the service of baptism, the clergy will meet with the family to discuss the baptism service and to make all the necessary arrangements. It is helpful to plan the date well in advance.
As the child grows older we encourage the family to share with our family services and for him or her to join in our Sunday School activities.
Confirmation
The service of Confirmation by the Bishop is available to those who wish. This will involve a period of preparation where the implications of Christian discipleship are discussed. The clergy are happy to discuss with any who wish to be confirmed. Contact: 09 236 0870.
Funerals
Our churches are available for funerals and we are happy to assist and advise. The first point of contact after a death is usually the funeral director who are the professionals to take care of the deceased. They will meet with you to discuss your options, from the type of casket, whether the deceased will be available for viewing and whether to cremate or be buried. The undertakers are well experience in guiding you through this difficult time. One of the questions you will be asked is about the type of service you want. If you would like to have the funeral in one of our churches it is important that the undertaker contact the clergy of the parish to set a time and date that is suitable, before making a commitment. The clergy will then meet with you and guide you in the planning of the service. The clergy and funeral directors work together to make the service special.
Some of the decisions that need to be made with the funeral directors:
- choose the funeral director
- choose the style of casket
- decide whether to have a viewing
- burial or cremation
- where the service is to be held
- choosing the pall bearers (six)
Some of the decisions that need to be made regarding the service arranged with the clergy:
- Whether the whole service will be held in the church, or whether the committal will be held at the crematorium. With a burial the service continues with the committal at the graveside.
- Whether to have hymns. choose readings, at least one Bible reading but secular readings or poems can be included as well.
- Speakers need to be chosen for the eulogy. It can be one speaker, a number of speakers and there is the option of allowing anyone to speak if they wish.
- Music needs to be considered. Our organists are available to play. Any special CD music needs to be arranged with the clergy and the funeral director.
Other decisions
Because St Mary’s and St Peters are both smallish churches (seating 90 and 75 respectively) it may be necessary to hire extra seating and a marquee. Neither church has a sound system so that may need to be hired. The funeral director will make those arrangements.
Unveiling of the Headstone
Some families like to have the headstone unveiled twelve months later. Clergy will be happy to assist inn the arrangement of a simple unveiling ceremony.
St Peter’s cemetery is available for burials.
Discuss this with your funeral director and if St Peter’s cemetery is to be used then approval must be sought from the cemetery committee first. It is possible for burial plots to be purchased in advance by families. This can be discussed with representatives of the Cemetery Board.
Ashes can be placed in the cemetery or in the columbarium. The clergy will assist with a simple ceremony.