A CHURCH has answered a woman's prayers by offering to hold her
wedding free of charge.
The bride-to-be, Jacqui Loewy was praying with another woman in
St Luke's, Cranham Park, in Essex, when she felt moved to pray out
loud for the first time in her life, asking for help so that she
and partner, Adam Nicholson, could get married.
The Vicar, the Revd Michael Vickers, was not told of the prayer,
but said that he felt, while praying about the couple, that he
should ask whether they were interested in getting married. Two
days later, he approached Miss Loewy and offered to organise the
wedding at the church. Miss Loewy, who has been attending the
church for four years, said that it was a "miracle".
Although the date has been set for July next year, the rest of
the arrangements, including the dress, ceremony, and reception, are
being organised by the church, and will be kept a surprise for the
couple.
Mr Vickers said that after making the offer he had panicked,
briefly, thinking that he might have to organise everything
himself. "Flowers and table decorations are not my strong point,"
he said. But he put out a plea to his congregation, asking them to
help, and, within a week, half of the items needed had been ticked
off the list. Offers of help from local businesses are still coming
in.
"This is a mission opportunity for the church. . . I believe
that as we support Adam and Jacqui, the wider community will see
what we are doing, and God, through our actions and their marriage,
will speak to many people about his love for families, his love for
individuals; and God will grow his Church."
A venue for the reception is still being sought.
"The whole church is involved," Mr Vickers said, "and will turn
out to support Jacqui and Adam and their children."