Couples in England now have greater choice over where to get married as new Anglican Church rules come into force.
Couples may now get married in church:
if one of them was baptised or prepared for confirmation in the parish:
one of them has lived in the parish or regularly attended public worship there for at least six months;
one of their parents has lived in the parish or regularly attended church services there for six months or more in their child's lifetime
their parents or grandparents were married in the parish.
The new law makes it easier for brides and grooms to have their wedding service in a church where they have a family or special connection. Previously, couples could get married in a church only if they attended it regularly or lived within the parish. The Church of England said it was now able to offer the "widest wedding welcome" in its history.

Church History

Baldwin Wake founded Bourne Abbey and gave land in West Deeping to the Abbey. The Rectors of West Deeping from 1224 until the Reformation were presented by the abbot of Bourne.

Parts of the church building are at least seven hundred and fifty years old, and are of the Early English and Decorated styles. The chancel arch and layout are Early English with three bay arcades of rounded piers, abact and double chamfered arches. The windows in the west bays of the aisles are late thirteenth century while the chancel is early 14th century. There are traditional sedilla and a piscina on the south side, and an aumbry on the north wall. The tiles are a Victorian addition.

The font, thought to be of Edward III’s time (1327-1377), is octagonal, with eight shields on each face. According to Holles Church Notes 1639-1642 and the British Library, the shields represent the families of Wake, Clare, Beauchamp, Verry and Clifford; three remain unsolved. Holles also records in his notes that the chancel window bore the arms of Bohun, Clifford, Wake, France and Lancaster. This window was one of the many destroyed by the Cromwellian soldiers during the civil war.

The present tower and spire were probably built around 1370. Towards the close of the 15th century the clerestory was added and the aisles rebuilt. The handsome arch to the West Tower is triple chamfered whilst the tower itself has clasping buttresses and a recessed crocheted spire with two tiers of lucarnes

An outstanding feature of the centre aisle is the large brass chandelier bearing the inscription: Lammas 1770. The silver gilt chalice and paten, made from a chalice presented to the parish in 1774, was gilded with gold from jewellery given by the women of the parish, as a thank offering to God made by a grateful people for his bounty in the harvests of 1867 and 1868.

Restoration and upkeep of the church

In the past
Succeeding generations have cared for the church. One of the earliest records is of a new roof in 1678. After undergoing a long course of restoration and adornment, Saint Andrew’s was re-opened in 1877. Money was raised and given by the Reverend Heathcote and parishioners of West Deeping, with the Earl of Egmont contributing a considerable amount. The side windows in the chancel bear the inscribed words. "To the glory of God in the grateful memory of George James Earl of Egmont to whom this church restored AD 1874, owes so much, the Rector, his nephew enabled by many friends, dedicates the beauty of this chancel A.D. 1876."

During the 1980’s and 1990’s repairs to the stonework and roof were carried out and the interior was re-decorated. Generous grants and extensive fund-raising in the parish achieved this. Unfortunately the age of the building means that by 2005 further repair and maintenance work had been identified. The necessary work included repair and treatment of the Nave roof timbers, re-rendering the South Clerestory, re-decoration and stonework at a total estimated cost of up to £50,000.

And today
An appeal for funds to meet the current estimated liability of £50,000 was launched in June 2006 with a Gift Day, and will be a long-term project for some years. Thanks to a good response to this Gift Day the Church Council hopes to put in hand the re-rendering of the South Clerestory Wall early in 2007. The regular group of worshippers form a small and committed congregation. Faced with ever increasing costs for both running and maintaining an important part if our village’s heritage there will be an ongoing requirement for fund raising. The support and help of all the villagers, the local business community and charitable bodies will be necessary in order to keep the church open.