This is a cut and paste job (hence no embedded links - I'll come back and fix them if I get a chance) of a nearly final draft of the information sheet that went out with the invitations during the week.
At the ChurchWe will be married according to the practice of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in St Francis Xavier Catholic Church at Carfin, with a short Thanksgiving Service afterwards.
A Quaker marriage ceremony takes place during a period of silent worship together, in which anyone present may be moved to share a thought or reflection, a prayer or reading. The meeting begins when the first person enters the church so please respect this when taking your seats. Once everyone is seated one of the Quaker Elders will give a brief introduction. After a time of silent worship we will stand and make our vows to each other. We will exchange rings and sign our Marriage Certificate, after which two witnesses will also sign it. The certificate will be read aloud by the Registering Officer. Worship will continue and we hope that everyone will feel free to speak if they feel moved to do so. The silence is a chance to reflect on what has been said, give thanks, and listen to God in prayer. Children and babies are very welcome and take part in their own way – it’s fine to bring along a quiet toy or a book, or to take them outside for a wee break if they are restless. The whole Meeting might last around an hour. Two of the Elders will signal the end by shaking hands.
After the Meeting closes, there will be a short interlude with refreshments during which everyone present will be invited to sign our Marriage Certificate as witnesses of our vows. We will then reconvene in the church for a short Thanksgiving Service. Our friend Fr Frank Johnston will preside and it will include hymns, readings and prayers.
Later there will be food and dancing in the church hall a few yards away.
Some accommodation optionsWe have arranged accommodation for Friday and/or Saturday night for any guests who would like at a residential centre six miles from the venue in Coatbridge. Paul used to work with the Global Education Centre and they are offering B&B in their newly-built centre in twin en-suite rooms for £25 per person per night (single occupancy available at the same rate). To book this option, please contact Alex Gaffikin (or us, if you don't know Alex!) by 11th September at the latest, indicating how many people are in your group. If you are booking on your own, let her know if you would be willing to share. Guests can settle up directly with the centre when they get there.
Motherwell is well-served with hotels and bed and breakfasts. We are not able to recommend any in particular, but here are a few in the surrounding area:
Dalziel Park (Post Code: ML1 5RZ): £75 B&B for two sharing, 1.5 miles from venue. Contact: 01698 862862 or www.dalzielpark.co.uk
Moorings Hotel (ML1 3DG): £75 B&B for two people, 2.2 miles from venue. Contact: 01698 258131 or www.mooringshotelmotherwell.co.uk
Premier Inn Motherwell (ML1 5SY): Room from £54, 2.4 miles from venue. Contact: 08701 977 164 or www.premierinn.com
Old Mill Hotel (ML1 1HJ): £65 B&B for two sharing, 2.5 miles from venue. Contact: 01698 261418 or www.theoldmillhotelmotherwell.co.uk
The Bentley Hotel (ML1 3HU): £70 B&B for two sharing, 2.7 miles from venue. Contact: 01698 265588 or www.thebentleyhotel.net
Dakota (ML1 4WJ): rooms from £95, 4 miles from venue. Contact: 0870 220 8281 or www.dakotaeurocentral.co.uk
Kingsland B&B (ML4 2BQ): £50 for two sharing, 4.7 miles from venue. Contact: 01698 268 528 or www.kingslandbedandbreakfast.co.uk
Holiday Inn Express (ML1 3RB): Room from £47, 5.4 miles from venue. Contact: 01698 858585 or www.ichotelsgroup.com
Hilton Strathclyde (ML4 3JQ): £61 B&B for two sharing, 7.7 miles from venue. Contact: 01698 395500 or www.hilton.co.uk/strathclyde
Wedding Gifts The most important thing for us is to have as many of our friends and family as possible with us on our special day. Also, we are fortunate enough to have much of what we need for starting our life together. So please don’t feel that you need to give us anything. Maybe instead of getting us a wedding present you would like to make a donation to the Am’ari Play Centre, which provides pre-school education to young children living in a refugee camp in Ramallah, Palestine. There is more information about their work here: www.fwccemes.org/emes/amari-play-centre where you can also find details about making a donation directly. If you would prefer, we can pass on a cheque made out to ‘FWCC-EMES Amari Play Centre’.
If you are determined to give us something, we will be posting a list of things we would find useful here in the next couple of weeks. If you would rather have a paper copy, please contact Chris.
Location & directionsWe will be holding our wedding ceremony and reception at St. Francis Xavier church and hall, Taylor Avenue, Carfin ML1 5AL. Both buildings are wheelchair accessible. The church has pleasant grounds with trees, paths and a small glass chapel. Carfin is 2 miles from the centre of Motherwell and about 16 miles from the centre of Glasgow.
BY CAR From the M8Continue along the M8 until it becomes the A8. Leave the A8 at the junction with the A73. At the roundabout, take the exit signposted Lanark, Motherwell and Wishaw. At the next roundabout, take the second exit. Then take the first right, onto the B7066 Motherwell Road. Continue straight for 2.2 miles. Look out for Carfin train station on your right. Just after the railway bridge, there is a mini roundabout. The church is on the left, but for parking, go straight at the roundabout and after a few yards turn left, through the narrow gate. You will be directed where to park and how to reach the church on foot.
From the M74 northboundAt junction 6, take the A723 exit to Motherwell, Wishaw and Hamilton. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Motherwell, and merge onto A723 Motherwell Road. Continue to follow A723 for 1.6 miles. At the roundabout, take the first exit onto Muir Street. Follow this road (A721), passing Motherwell train station on your left, and at the next roundabout take the second exit onto Hope Street. Continue straight through another roundabout. At the next roundabout, take the first exit onto Merry St (A723). Continue for another mile. At the roundabout, take the second exit onto Cleland Road. Continue straight for around half a mile. Look out for the National Pilgrimage Centre on your right and turn right there through the narrow gate. (If you reach a mini roundabout next to Carfin train station, you have come too far.) You will be directed where to park and how to reach the church on foot.
There is limited parking right next to the church. Please let us know if you need one of these spaces for mobility reasons.
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTMotherwell station is on the West Coast Mainline and many London to Glasgow trains stop there. There are also local rail services from Glasgow Central. There are also trains from Glasgow Central to Carfin station, but please note it is on a different line from Motherwell. Timetables are available on the Scotrail website: www.scotrail.co.uk.
A number of bus services for Newarthill leave from Muir Street in Motherwell (exit train station and turn right for bus stops). Get off at the Carfin Grotto stop. It takes around 10 minutes.
Motherwell Taxi Companies include:
Redline Cabs 01698 261330
Club Taxis 01698 834545
Penny Cabs 01698 831111
For those staying in Coatbridge:
Swift Cars 01236 435555
Town Taxis 01236 440568
