Weddings, Baptisms and Funerals

Wakefield Cathedral is part of the Church of England and a Mother Church of the Diocese of Leeds. Its practice is governed by Canon Law which is part of the Law of England

Below you can find specific information regarding weddings, baptisms and funerals here at Wakefield Cathedral, alternatively.

Please click here for more general information around life events and the Church of England.

Font at Wakefield Cathedral

Baptisms

Baptism (or ‘christening’ as many know it) means ‘being made into Christ’ – becoming part of the Christian family. 

Baptisms usually take place on designated Sundays throughout the year and are a joyful occasion when your family and friends, along with the whole church family, are invited to gather to celebrate and welcome their newest members.

Can I be baptised at Wakefield Cathedral?

If you live within the cathedral parish you are entitled to be baptised here yourself or have your children baptised here.
(You can find out if you live in the parish by
entering your postcode into the Church Near You website). 

Baptism is also available for those living outside of the cathedral parish boundary who feel they have a connection with the cathedral or Chantry Chapel, upon prior agreement sought from the vicar of the parish where you live.

The best way to book a Baptism is to come along to one of our Sunday services and ask to speak to a member of the clergy. Alternatively, you might first wish to email our office team or call 01924 373923 with any general enquiries.

Baptism at Wakefield Cathedral for Adults

All those who profess Faith in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and desire to follow Jesus Christ as his disciple may be baptised as required by the Canons.

Every adult who desires to be baptised will be required to attend a preparation of six sessions each lasting about an hour. Wakefield Cathedral sees this ministry as an important part of Mission and time and resources are applied to this work.

The sessions cover:

  • The Life of Jesus
  • The teachings of Jesus – what Jesus asks of us
  • Forgiveness and New life
  • The Trinity- Father Son and Holy Spirit
  • Prayer and Worship
  • Living as a Christian

There are also plenty of opportunities for questions throughout each of the sessions.

One of the key Biblical texts is found in Acts Chapter 8 – the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch – in this account the pattern of preparation and Baptism is set out. You can find it below.

  • Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts, Chapter 8, Verses 26-38)

    Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south[a] to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:

    “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,

    and like a lamb silent before its shearer,

    so he does not open his mouth.

    In his humiliation justice was denied him.

    Who can describe his generation?

    For his life is taken away from the earth.”

    The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptised him.

Weddings

For many people, a wedding day is one of the most special days of their lives, committing their future to the one they love, and understandably many couples wish to seek God’s blessing as they start the next chapter of their life together.

Wakefield Cathedral offers a unique and incredible venue for weddings in the heart of the city of Wakefield, surrounded by historic fabric throughout our wonderful building.

Whether you are looking for a large scale wedding with bridesmaids, music and hundreds of guests, or a more reserved service for close family and friends, we are able to cater to all preferences to make sure your special day is remembered for all the right reasons.

To find out if you can marry at Wakefield Cathedral see the section below.

To discover more information about church weddings in the Church of England please visit the Your Church Wedding website.

  • Who can marry in a cathedral?

    We are bound by English Law which provides rules for weddings in a cathedral. Unfortunately the changes made to the rules in 2008 around Civil Weddings and which also made it easier for any couple to marry in a church, do not apply to cathedrals.

    You may be eligible to marry at Wakefield Cathedral if you fit one of the following criteria:

              At least one of the couple lives within the cathedral parish

              At least one of the couple is an active member of the congregation

              You have an alternative qualifying connection to the cathedral or Chantry Chapel (e.g. baptised in the cathedral).

    The first step to getting married at Wakefield Cathedral is getting in touch to find out your eligibility status. You can do this by simply emailing admin@wakefield-cathedral.org.uk or calling the office on 01924 373923 and we will be happy to help you understand your options.

Funerals

A Church of England funeral at Wakefield Cathedral can provide a fitting tribute to the life of a loved one through prayer as they are entrusted to God’s merciful keeping.

We are able to offer funerals for:

          Those who lived within the cathedral parish

          Members of the cathedral congregation

          Those who have a connection with the cathedral

We are also able to provide a suitable venue for those whose civil roles or public life have touched many within the community whereby a larger venue will be needed, in conjunction with the relevant parish clergy.

To find out more about funerals at Wakefield Cathedral, including eligibility, costings and further information, please contact our Cathedral Office on 01924 373923 or email admin@wakefield-cathedral.org.uk.

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Wakefield Cathedral

Cathedral Centre
8-10 Westmorland St
Wakefield
WF1 1PJ
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01924 373923
admin@wakefield-cathedral.org.uk

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