Imagine discovering one day that something you had done in your past was
now a viral sensation on the internet, making headlines on social media and
being covered by news outlets from Washington UK to Washington DC. This was the
situation local priest Rev’d Paul Child found himself in recently, as a clip
from a couple’s wedding video became an overnight internet smash.
Paul,
Assistant Curate in the Monkwearmouth Team Ministry, said, “The first I heard
of it was when a couple of congregation members said they’d seen my video
online. Then a few people mentioned it at the school gates and said it had been
in the local press. When I looked it up on social media I was absolutely
amazed, not just to see the footage but also the response it was getting!"
The video, which featured Shaun and Adele Palmer’s wedding at
St. Andrew’s Church, Roker, was memorable for the unusual way the couple
received their rings. Shaun had secretly arranged for Bilbo the owl to deliver
the rings at the appropriate point in the service - with Adele and the rest of
the congregation completely unaware of what was going to unfold.
This would
have been an unusual situation for many vicars, but for Paul there was an
additional reason to be nervous. “It was the very first wedding I had officiated
at,” he said. “When I got the message from Shaun to say he’d secretly arranged
an owl I was unsure how it would play out, but it was his & Adele’s special
day & I wanted it to be as perfect as possible for them.”
Returning
to St. Andrew’s to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, Shaun Palmer
said, “If Adele & I had to use one word to describe our
day it would be incredible! From the first meeting Paul and the team made
us feel so welcome and special it was just amazing. We couldn't see
ourselves getting married in a better church, it’s such a beautiful building,
and we were honoured we were the first couple Paul married - quite a landmark
day for the 3 of us! We couldn't have asked for anything more!”
The video has now been viewed over 782,000 times on YouTube and Shaun & Adele have received messages from across the globe commenting on it. But has there been a sudden rush of animal antics at St. Andrew’s?
“Not yet,” said Paul, “But in the
Monkwearmouth Parish we try our hardest to help all our wedding couples have an
amazing beginning to their married life together. A church wedding offers a
unique opportunity to be joined together in the sight of God and to allow Jesus
to be the bedrock on which the relationship will be built and sustained. If we
can help make it memorable in other ways we’re always willing to try!”
The video has now been viewed over 782,000 times on YouTube and Shaun & Adele have received messages from across the globe commenting on it. But has there been a sudden rush of animal antics at St. Andrew’s?
To find out more about arranging a wedding in Monkwearmouth Parish, visit our website.
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| Shaun & Adele with Rev'd Child on their 1st Wedding Anniversary |
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