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Malvern Priory
Parish Office,
Church Street,
MALVERN
WR14 2AY

Tel: 01684 561020

"Love is patient and kind, is not self seeking, keeps no records of wrongs and rejoices in the truth."

"Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, for God is love"

There was plenty of love displayed and shared in the Priory during the Festival of Weddings from 18th - 21st July 2008. Flowers, photographs and wedding dresses decorated the Priory during this special weekend and ribbons; bells and hearts adorned the Norman pillars.

The weekend got off to a spectacular start on the Friday evening at the Official Launch. We were especially delighted that the lady Mayor, Caroline Bovey, was able to join us. "Brief Encounter" played romantic background music, as guests wandered around the Priory looking at the profusion of flowers, photographs and the dresses.

Ann Oldfield, wearing her bridal gown from l976, welcomed everyone and John Barr gave thanks and said a short prayer of dedication asking for God's blessing on the weekend.

On Saturday, Sunday and Monday a steady stream of visitors from far and wide enjoyed the Festival. Several local traders and hotels had wedding displays and on the Saturday two young ladies in wedding dresses from the Bridal Gallery walked up and down Church Street giving out fliers and publicising the event.

There was a reflective prayer area (below left) where people could write prayers on wedding bells and hang them on a veil.

A beautiful handmade Wedding Banner hung above the choir stalls. The wedding banner was based on Song of Songs 8:6,7 (NIV), which describes love as a blazing fire unquenchable by many waters.

The Lyttelton Well and Mothers' Union had books on marriage and also details of Marriage Courses run by the Lyttelton Well.

Through out the Festival, delicious cakes, coffee and tea were served by hardworking volunteers.

Displays of photographs showed weddings through the years in the Priory and photographs of Priory members. It was challenging to guess who was who and how much they had changed over the years.

The results of the Festival competition were announced as follows: Annette and Cyril Halstead were the couple married for the longest time. They were married on 10th June 1944 in the Priory and who now live in Troon, Ayrshire. Two other couples, Edna and Cyril Abercrombie from Dorset and Margaret and George Snell from Malvern, both married in l947, were runners up. There are two couples now living in New Zealand, Jennifer (nee Rea) and Bob Pomeroy and Rachel (nee Blackshaw) and John Wright, who are the ones now living the farthest away.

At the centre of the weekend was the special service on Sunday evening "Wedding Rings". About 200 people joined together to celebrate the gift of married life and, as a sign of thanksgiving, people lit candles in the new votive candle stand. During the service many couples took the opportunity to re-affirm their wedding vows. Ron Ward played Pachelbel's Canon in D and Widor's Toccata in F from the 5th Symphony. Tony Whalley preached a splendid sermon. People stayed on afterwards to enjoy the wedding cake and more cups of tea. It was a memorable occasion.

Everyone was smiling, after all weddings are joyful occasions!

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