Weddings at Derry Church
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Derry Presbyterian Church, in keeping with the Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), believes that marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family. Marriage is a civil contract between a woman and a man. For Christians, marriage is a covenant through which a man and a woman are called to live together before God their lives of discipleship. Derry Church welcomes all couples who wish to be married in a Christian context, according to the following guidelines:

• The prospective bride or the groom must be a member of Derry Presbyterian Church, or an active member of another Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregation

• No weddings will be scheduled on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day, on New Year’s Eve or on New Year’s Day, or from Good Friday through Easter.

• Due to clean up and parking limitations, weddings will not be scheduled less than four hours apart on the same day.

• Non-Derry member wedding dates and times will not be confirmed and guaranteed more than four months in advance of the wedding date.

• One of the Derry Church wedding coordinators will be assigned to every ceremony, if one has not been specifically requested in advance by the couple.

• The church can only be requested as a backup facility for an outdoor service when one of the Derry Church pastors is officiating at the ceremony. Although applicable building fees will apply only if the service is held at the church, honoraria for church staff (wedding coordinator and organist) must be paid whether the church building is used or not.

Next steps

Based on the above criteria, if couples still have an interest in marrying at Derry Church, they should call the church secretary (717-533-9667) to inquire about available dates, and request a copy of “The Wedding Celebration” booklet, which contains guidelines and an application form. If the requested date is available, the prospective bride and groom must meet with one of the pastors before a wedding can be placed on the church calendar and before assurance can be given that a Minister will participate in the ceremony.

After meeting with the Minister, a wedding application form can be mailed or delivered to the church office to confirm the date, along with a non-refundable $100 deposit (non-Derry members only). Make checks payable to Derry Presbyterian Church.


Fees