We love weddings at Graffham!
For centuries, couples have chosen to be married at our beautiful and historic St Giles Church, nestling in the lee of the South Downs at the quiet end of the village before the road turns into a bridleway through the woods to the top of Graffham Down, with its view across open fields.
You have to be able to meet the Church of England’s requirements to be married here – but, even if neither the bride nor groom normally lives in the parish, this is often possible to achieve, so do feel free to enquire.
Otherwise – or for couples who simply prefer this approach – we can offer, whenever we can, a wedding blessing after a civil registration.
We can also offer a Service of Thanksgiving for Marriage with renewal of vows, perhaps marking a special anniversary.
Our quintessentially English church, dating back to the 12th Century, can seat 120 people – 150 with extra seating brought in.
Our bell-ringers and organists all receive many plaudits, and we are happy to welcome the participation of family members or professional musicians to help make a couple’s wedding service their own. In recent years, this has included a string quartet, gospel choir, jazz piano, guitarist, brass band – even a full bagpipe and drum marching band! If you have another musical preference, let us know – we are ready to support.
There is a wide-range of venues for receptions locally – including Graffham’s splendid Empire Hall. The village also has two pubs and a restaurant, two of them offering excellent overnight accommodation, with a good selection also of hotels, airbnbs and camping grounds here or close by.
If you are considering your own wedding in the not too distant future, Reverend Vivien will be happy to discuss potential arrangements with you. You can contact her at reverendvivien@gmail.com or on 01798 867199 – or come and see St Giles for yourself at any of our Sunday services and meet her there!
She and the entire St Giles team will do their utmost to ensure your wedding really is the best day of your lives.
Meantime, our love and best wishes go to all the couples who have started their married life here in recent times. Read about them here.