The United Reformed Church’s digital congregation has celebrated its first, official wedding.
Dr Diana Paulding-Sturdy and her new husband Dr James Sturdy were married through yourchurch on 6 September at a service led by the Revd Philip Brooks, also a member of the digital congregation.
To enable members of the church and friends and family to attend the ceremony, the yourchurch service was held at Fenstanton URC in Cambridgeshire, with a link to those gathered online.
“It was never in question that I would get married through yourchurch, my home church,” said Diana who has been a member of yourchurch since 2020 and serves as an Elder. “For me my home church is about the people and the style of worship, not a building.”
Although other members of yourchurch have married in a similar way, Diana and James’ wedding is the first wedding since yourchurch was recognised as a local congregation by General Assembly in 2023.
“As we were planning to have our reception in Cambridge, I got in touch with Fenstanton URC who kindly agreed for us to get married there with a Zoom link so that additional members of yourchurch could join,” said Diana. “I went to Fenstanton and joined their Sunday morning worship on some weekends when I was in Cambridge in the run up to the wedding and was welcomed in with open arms. The Elders and members of Fenstanton were absolutely amazing – both before and on the day – and it was an absolute joy and privilege to get married in their church.”
James and Diana met while undergraduates in Cambridge more than 11 years ago. They got engaged in 2023 while on holiday in Germany. As Diana is a Christian and James is not, it was important that the service reflected both with biblical and secular readings. Those attending were invited to treat the prayers as periods of reflection.
Around 70 people attended in-person with 15 joining online, including both James and Diana’s grandmothers. Diana’s grandmother, Lilian Timms (known affectionately as Ma), was also a member of yourchurch but sadly died aged 98 a few weeks after the wedding.
“We were so grateful that she was able to be part of the wedding via Zoom,” said Diana.
Encouraging others getting married, Diana said: “Your wedding should suit you and the people who you want to share the day with. If this includes a digital element/livestream/members of an online local church, go for it.”
Images: Jack Matthew Photography.