As Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay today exchange their vows beneath the magnificent ceilings of Bath Abbey, the Mirror takes a look at the strict rules lovebirds must abide by if they too want to marry at this iconic religious site
Today, Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty and model Holly Ramsay will say ‘I do’ at the majestic Bath Abbey, and other lovebirds can follow in their footsteps – so long as they abide by a strict set of rules.
The history of the Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, best known as Bath Abbey, dates right back to the seventh century, with work on the breathtaking Grade I listed building completed right back in 1611. In the years since, countless couples have started out their married life together beneath the elaborate fan-vaulted ceilings, in the heart of one of Britain’s most elegant cities.
With its imposing Gothic architecture and splendid stained glass windows, it’s easy to see why this venue captures the hearts of so many brides and grooms-to-be. And for devout Christians, Adam and Holly, the spiritual significance will, of course, be a particular draw. But if you’ve been inspired to follow suit, then there are a few important things you need to bear in mind.
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This isn’t a venue where you can simply call and check availability; couples must meet a very particular set of criteria. Indeed, as per the Bath Abbey website: “We offer weddings for parishioners, members of the congregation and for those with a qualifying connection to the Abbey. There are also a number of requirements to ensure the marriage complies with both UK civil and church law.”
Those interested in learning more about these requirements are then directed to the Church of England Weddings website, where the newly engaged worshippers are advised that they must be over the age of 18, of different genders, and must arrange for their wedding to take place between the hours of 8 am to 6 pm on “any day”.
The website also advises: “It’s possible to get married in a church that’s away from where you live if you have a certain kind of connection with it. You may be legally connected to a number of churches in different ways.” Holly and Adam’s connection to Bath Abbey hasn’t been made public, but it’s clear this is a place of personal significance to them.
Those who meet the requirements set out by the Abbey, and indeed the Church of England, will pay £2,500 for their service.
However, it’s believed Adam, 30, and Holly, 25, will pay substantially more, given that they’ve booked the former Benedictine monastery out for the entire day, despite their own service lasting just 90 minutes, and will also be requiring extensive security.
The decision to block out any other weddings from being held on the same date, while barring any curious tourists from entering or even being near the popular landmark, hasn’t gone down well with all Bath locals.
One source told The Sun: “It seems rather selfish to be hiring the abbey for the whole day when your wedding service only lasts for an hour and a half or so.”
The official Bath Abbey website states that it is “closed for visiting” today, while an official note on the door states “visiting and services will resume on Sunday 28th December”. It’s believed security will also be on hand to deter members of the public from entering or taking any snaps.
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