MARRIAGE

HAND BOOK

(A) CHARGE AND DECLARATION:

COUPLE (STANDING, THE MINISTERS ADDRESSES) Dearly
beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God and
in the presence of this congregation, to join this man and this
woman in Holy Matrimony, which is an honourable estate,
instituted by God himself, signifying unto us the mystical union
that is between Christ and the Church, which holy estate Christ
adorned and beautified with His presence, and the first miracle
that he wrought in Canaan of Galilee, and is commanded in the
Holy scriptures to be honourable among all men and therefore
is not by any to be enterprise, nor taken in hands, unadvisedly,
lightly or wrongly but reverently, discreetly, soberly, and in the
fear of God duly considering the cause of which matrimony was
ordained.
Firstly, it was ordained for the procreation of children to be
brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the
praise of His holy name.
Secondly, it was ordained for the remedy against sin, and to
avoid fornication.
Thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual society, help and
comfort that the one ought to have for the other, both in
prosperity, and in times of need.
Into this estate, these two persons have come to be joined.
Therefore, if any man can show any just cause, why they may
not be lawfully joined together, let him now speak, or else
hereafter, forevermore hold his peace.
(B) CHARGE TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM:
I require and charge you both as you will answer at the
dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall
be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment why

you may not be lawfully joined together in Holy Matrimony, you

do now confess it. For be you assured, that if any persons are
joined together otherwise than as Gods word doth allow, their
marriage is not lawful.
THE MINISTER SHALL ASK:
Is there any lawful impediment why you may not be joined in
Holy Matrimony?
NONE: The Groom and the Bride shall respond.
(THE MINISTER TO THE GROOM)
...., will you have this woman
to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together after Gods
ordinances in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her,
comfort her, honour her and keep her, in sickness and in
health, and forsaking all others, keep you only to her, as long
as you both shall live.
GROOM: Yes I will God helping me.
(THEN SHALL THE MINISTER SAY TO THE BRIDE)
.. will you have this man to be
your lawfully wedded husband, to live together after Gods
ordinances in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you obey
him, serve him, love him, honour him, and keep him in
sickness and in health and forsaking all others, keep you only
to him as long as you both shall live?.
BRIDE: Yes I will God helping me.
(B) JOINING AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION
(THEN THE MINISTER SHALL SAY)
Who giveth this Woman unto this Man?
The Brides Father will answer: I do
Then the Minister receiving the Woman at her Fathers hand,
shall request the Couple to hold their right hands together and
repeat the following words after him.
(THE MINISTER TO THE GROOM)
I, ..take you to be my lawfully
wedded Wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for

better, and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and
in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according
to Gods holy ordinance and thereto I pledge my troth.
(THE MINISTER TO THE BRIDE)
I, ..take you to be my lawfully
wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward,
for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness
and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part
according to Gods holy ordinance and thereto I pledge my
troth.
(C) BLESSING AND EXCHANGING OF RINGS/BIBLES
(THEN SHALL THE MINISTER RECEIVE THE RINGS/BIBLES,
BLESS THEM SAYING)
Bless oh these Rings/Bibles which we bless in Thy name and
grant that they who shall wear/have them, keep true faith unto
each other and that they abide in Thy peace and according to
Thy will. May they live in mutual love unto their lives and may
their end be to Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(THE GROOM HOLDING ONE RING/BIBLE SHALL SAY
AFTER THE MINISTER)
With this Ring/Bible, I thee wed, with my body I thee worship
and with all my worldly goods I thee endow, in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(THE BRIDE HOLDING ONE RING/BIBLE SHALL SAY AFTER
THE MINISTER)
With this ring, I thee wed, with my body I thee worship and
with all my worldly goods I thee endow, in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Those who God has joined together let no man put asunder, for
as much as and..have consented together in
holy wedlock and we have witnessed same before God and this
company/congregation, and hereto have pledge their troth,
either to the other, and have declared the same by giving and
receiving of Rings/Bibles, and by joining of hands. I, as an
ordained Minister of the gospel pronounce that they be

HUSBAND and WIFE together, in the name of the Father, and

of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (Couple Kneeling)
Signing of Marriage Register follows.
Presentation of couples to the congregation.

BLESSED MARRIAGE
1.

COUPLE (STANDING, THE MINISTER ADDRESS)

Dearly beloved, we are gather together here in the sight of
God and in the presence of this congregation to formerly pray
and lawfully join you together as husband and wife, before
now, you were together unlawfully known as boyfriend and
girlfriend (fornicating) after hearing the word of God, that, it is
wrong for two different gender (Man and Woman) to be
together without Bride Price Payment living in fornication.
Today, the two of you are here after Bride Price Payment by
the Mans family to the Womans family, to be lawfully joined
and be Blessed of the Lord. From this day forward there is no
room for divorce or to put away wife or husband, you are
bound together forever in Gods presence so long as you both
live, not to be broken/separated by any.
From this day forward you are bound together as husband and
wife. Before now, when Bride Price has not been paid, two of
you are free to part. Today, as God will be part of this
Marriage, you must adhere strictly to the word of God, which
says, Therefore shall a man leave his father and his
mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall
be one flesh (Gen. 2:24), the mathematics of God says
One plus One is equal to One. Not two but One. What
therefore God hath joined together, let not man put
asunder (Matt 19:6).
I therefore charge both of you before these Clergymen and the
Congregation of Gods people here present and before the
Altar of God today ____________ that from this day forward you
both will keep this Marriage in the ordinances of God as long
as both of you live. "SAY YES BOTH OF YOU" as God helping
me.
(A)
THE MINISTER TO THE MAN:
I __________________ take you _____________________ to be my
lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward for
better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in
health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according
to God holy ordinance and hereto I pledge my troth.

(B)
THE MINISTER TO THE WOMAN:
I __________________ take you _____________________ to be my
lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward for
better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in
health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according
to God Holy ordinance and hereto I pledge my troth.
BLESSING AND EXCHANGE OF RINGS/BIBLES
Then the Minister receiving the Rings/Bibles and shall bless
them saying:
(1)

Bless oh Lord these Rings/Bibles which we bless in Thy

name and grant they who shall wear/have them keep true
faith unto each and that they abide in Thy peace and
according to Thy will may live in mutual love unto their lives
end through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.

(2)

The Man holding one Ring/Bible shall say after the Minister.
With this Ring/Bible, I lawfully marry, with my body I thee
worship and with all my worldly goods I thee endow, in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

(3)

The Woman holding one ring says after the Minister:

With this Ring/Bible, I lawfully marry, with my body I thee
worship and with all my worldly goods, I thee endow, in the
name
of
the
Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(4)

The Minister shall join their hands together and say:

Those who God has joined together let no man put
asunder
for
as much as ________________ and _________________ have
consented together in lawful marriage and we have
witnessed
same
before
God
and
this
company/congregation and hereto have pledge their troth
either to the other and have declared the same by giving
and receiving of Rings/Bibles. And by joining of hands. I as
an ordained Minister of the gospel pronounce that they be
lawful Husband and Wife together, in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen

PRAYER/DEDICATION (Couple Kneeling)

Signing of Marriage Register follows.
Presentation of Couples to the Congregation.