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Your wedding marks the start of your married life together, and can be marked by a ceremony before God, as well as with your friends and family.
Your wedding ceremony should be personal to you, so the minister will be happy to help you plan your service to make it as meaningful as possible. It is important to set the date, time and location of the wedding with the minister first and as early as possible.
In the Church of Scotland, there is no fee for the services of the minister. However, if you are able to contribute financially, there is a suggested fee to both the church officer and the organist as well as for the use of the church building itself : Church £275 ; Church Officer £80; Organist £120
(We don’t want these fees to be a barrier to anyone, please speak to Rev Jenny if they are a problem.)
For all you need to know about the legalities of getting married in Scotland, see
https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/registration/getting-married-in-scotland
or contact the Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages, 240 High Street, Elgin, IV30 1BA Tel 01343 554600
For any further information, or to discuss any possible arrangements, please contact Rev Jenny.

The sacrament of baptism is the ceremony of welcome into the worldwide family of the church. A sacrament is a sign or symbol, and in baptism ordinary water becomes a sign of God’s love for us all. Whether or not we know or understand it, God loves us first, and as we grow we can respond to God’s love with faith and love.
Baptism is a once-in-your-life sacrament. Traditionally most baptisms have been of children, which reminds us that God’s love is not dependent on our understanding. But adults of any age may also wish to be baptised, if they have not already been.
As baptism welcomes someone into the family of the church, it would normally take place during a regular church service of the local congregation, to which your family and friends are all most welcome.
In infant baptism, parent(s) and/or sponsor(s) are asked to confess their faith, and make promises to bring the child up in the life of the church.
In adult baptism, the person themselves confesses their faith and makes promises.
In all cases, the congregation commits itself to welcoming and supporting all members of the church family.
For any further information, or to discuss any possible arrangements, please contact Rev Jenny.

For some parents, they may wish to give thanks for the gift of a child, but feel baptism is not right for them. Some prefer to give their child the chance to make a decision about baptism for themselves when they are older. Some might find the promises and confession asked in a service of baptism to be beyond what they are happy to commit to.
In those cases, a child can be blessed during a service of worship. There is no water, and no promises or commitments are asked of the parents or godparents. However, it allows family and friends, and the church family, to gather before God, to celebrate this new life, and to give the support all families need.
For any further information, or to discuss any possible arrangements, please contact Rev Jenny.

The church exists to serve others – and in doing so, we serve God. As a parish church, we are called to serve the people and communities of Duffus, Spynie & Hopeman – in times of celebration and of sorrow, and in all aspects of daily life.
Most of the support and work of the church is carried out by our many members, as they go about their normal lives – as family members, friends and neighbours, and through work, whether paid or voluntary.
But there may be certain circumstances where additional support may be helpful. For some particular directed support, the contacts for support services below may be helpful. For pastoral, spiritual or religious support, please contact Rev Jenny.

Millennium Youth Fund.
The aim of the Millennium Youth Fund is to assist pupils of secondary school age, residing in the parish of Duffus, Spynie & Hopeman, to participate in high quality and challenging activities (drama, sport, music, travel etc.) which they might otherwise have difficulty in attending due to financial constraints.
Church Benevolent Fund.
This Benevolent Fund is for anyone connected with the congregation who would benefit from financial help which cannot be provided from other social funding or agencies. It is strictly confidential and administered by the minister and session clerk.
For more information, contact Ron Duncan [email protected]

The Minister holds Baptismal records for Hopeman Church since 1959, for Duffus Church since 1968, and for Duffus, Spynie & Hopeman Church since 1991. The appropriate office-bearers hold Session & Board minutes from 1979 onwards. For any other queries about church records, your best starting points are:
The National Records of Scotland www.nrscotland.gov.uk
Moray’s Local Heritage Centre www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_1537.html
email [email protected]
Moray & Nairn Family History Society www.morayandnairnfhs.co.uk

Hopeman and Duffus Church halls are available for both occasional use and regular lets. For more information on terms and conditions, see the agreement documents here. For availability or bookings please contact:
Duffus Church & Church Hall – Sheila Duncan 01343 830238
Hopeman Church Hall – Janice Craib 01343 830139
Spynie Church – Shona Rowand 01343 850693