Amy Winehouse Pretty Photos

I've come to the conclusion that The Church of England and Amy Winehouse have a lot in common with one another - both have the potential to change the world, yet both are hell bent on destroying themselves.

Amy Winehouse Pretty Photos

Less than 12 months ago the Archbishop of Canterbury passed a new ruling called the "Marriage Measures" it was designed to bring Church Marriages into the 21st Centuries. In brief, the couple no longer had to show a direct connection with a specific church or parish. At last the penny had dropped that couples wanted to marry in pretty churches and so the "Idyllic Churches" were freed to offer their marriage services to all couples. Well done I hear you cry, at last. The Church had seen the writing on the wall and decided to compete with the registry office. One budding Vicar has even started marketing his church on Ebay, I like that... no its not disrespectful, its pragmatic.

Amy Winehouse Pretty Photos

However there seems to be a sinister threat to the Archbishop of Canterbury's hopes for attracting more couples to church for their weddings. There is an alarming trend which could become the dominant view in church unless halted very soon. Worse still it is being implemented as swiftly and efficiently as could only be achieved in a dictatorship.

Amy Winehouse Pretty Photos

A bride stands at the altar speaking the most important words of her life so far, "I do", and whilst she will have her personal memory, she has been banned from having any wedding photographs. With alarming regularity, unswerving authority and without appeal, Church Vicars are saying "No" to wedding photography during the marriage service.

Amy Winehouse Pretty Photos

To make matters worse the couple often only find out at the rehearsal. The question then is who do you speak to? What do you do? The Vicar is the face of the church and often an impassable brick wall. I have seen a Vicar leave the groom standing at the Altar, take the bride to one side and tell her in no uncertain terms, "No photography in my church".

Amy Winehouse Pretty Photos

Before I say anything I ought to share my credentials. I may be an award winning photographer, and I am... But I was also a Baptist Minister (Vicar) for ten years and have a degree in Theology (The study of God) from Oxford University and in those years I married dozens of couples and managed many wedding photographers.

Amy Winehouse Pretty Photos

Amy Winehouse Pretty Photos

Amy Winehouse Pretty Photos